Global Reaction

Mexico sends first rescue team to Japan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-12 17:01

MEXICO CITY - A Mexican rescue team had left for Japan, less than a day after a massive earthquake measuring 8.9 magnitude hit the eastern Asian country, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

The rescue team, made up of 20 professional rescuers, three analysts of building structures and 10 sniffer dogs, set off at 7:50 pm local time Friday (0350 GMT Saturday), Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa told the media.

Special Coverage: Earthquake Hits Japan Related readings:  China's Red Cross offers 1m yuan to Japan  Japan faces blackouts after nuclear power plants shutdown  Quake is 5th biggest, but Japan best prepared  Rescue conducted after the quake in Japan

A second team was being assembled and would leave Saturday, she said.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the first team will rush to the quake-hit area immediately after they arrive in Tokyo and cooperate with Japanese authorities in searching for missing people.

Earlier on Friday, Mexican President Felipe Calderon sent his condolences to the people of Japan via the social network site, Twitter.

In a separate statement, Mexico's Foreign Ministry offered to provide any help the Japanese government sought.