A team of South Korean rescue workers left for China's southwestern province of Sichuan on Friday to offer help to the victims in the earthquake-hit area.

The team, composed of 41 rescue workers from the National Emergency Management Agency and three officials of the Korea International Cooperation Agency, departed from the Incheon International Airport at around 2:00 PM Seoul Time (0500 GMT) and is expected to arrive in Chengdu city at 5:30 PM Beijing Time (0930 GMT).

The rescue team will directly advance to the earthquake-hit area to join search and rescue works, said Kim Young-seok, leader of the team, ahead of the departure.

He said the rescue team also brings two rescue dogs and series of rescue equipment to China.

The team is set to stay in China for one week and will extend their service in China if necessary, he said.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry said earlier on Friday that the South Korean government will push for the dispatch of medical manpower if China wants it.

South Korea also plans to send emergency aid materials including tents and blankets to Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, on Sunday by a special cargo plane, local media said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2008)