China medical team arrives in Nepal as toll rises

Family members break down during the cremation of earthquake victims in Bhaktapur, near Kathmandu, on Sunday. NIRANJAN SHRESTHA/ AP

President, premier and foreign minister extend deep condolences to victims of weekend disaster

A 58-strong Chinese Government Medical Team arrived in Nepal Monday morning to carry out humanitarian mission after the country was struck by a powerful earthquake at midday Saturday.

The first rescue team sent by China also arrived in Nepal on Sunday at the scene of the devastating earthquake.

The teams flew in as the central government in Beijing mobilized support and with more rescuers on their way to the Himalayan nation.

The magnitude-8.1 quake struck the landlocked country on Saturday afternoon and also jolted part of China's Tibet autonomous region.

A total of 3,218 people had been killed and about 6,500 others injured in the powerful earthquake that struck Nepal at midday Saturday, the authorities said Monday morning.

Shortly after the disaster struck, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi offered their deep condolences to victims. Xi also expressed his confidence that the government in Nepal will tackle the disaster and said China is willing to provide all necessary assistance.

On Saturday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement, "The Chinese government extends sincere sympathy to the countries concerned and stands ready to provide assistance."

A 62-strong China International Search and Rescue Team left for Nepal early on Sunday morning and later arrived in Kathmandu, the capital.

Shankar Koirala, Nepal's joint secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, described the team's arrival as "timely assistance". Later on Sunday, the team spent about four hours in the northwest of Kathmandu and rescued its first survivor, a 20-year-old man.