A 15-strong Chinese international search and rescue team Monday morning set out to join the relief work in Oofunato, Iwate, a city severely damaged by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake Friday.

The Chinese international search and rescue team, which arrived in Oofunato at around 10:30 p.m. Sunday night, is the first overseas team to join and help out the relief work in the city.

Team leader Yin Guangfui said they have brought along life exploration device and some other equipment to help carrying out the rescue.

The team, with good experience in search and rescue, will strive to do the relief work, Yin added.

The team members, including rescue and medical personnel, gathered at a primary school in Oofunato on Sunday and set off at 7:30 a.m. to the disaster-hit area together with the Japanese rescue teams after a briefing. The team is expected to be here for seven to 10 days.

The catastrophic earthquake hit northeast of Japan on March 11, triggering severe tsunami and causing extensive damage and loss in different areas. According to local media, a total of 985 people have been confirmed dead, 707 others injured and over 1,700 others missing.