Moscow, March 14 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia will send a team of rescuers to Japan, stricken by the devastating earthquake and tsunami, a spokeswoman for the country's emergencies ministry has said.
Irina Andrianova said Japan had agreed to accept a team of 50 Russian rescuers to join the search for survivors of the disaster.
An Mi-26 helicopter of the Russian emergencies ministry would carry 25 rescuers and a rescue vehicle to Japan.
If Japan asks for additional help, Russia will send more forces, Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
The magnitude 8.9 tremor, which struck the Japan's northeast, was the most powerful ever recorded in the country. It triggered a 10-metre tsunami wave that swept away people, houses and cars.