A Chinese rescue team has begun work shortly after arriving in the quake-ruined city of Bam in Iran's southeastern province of Kerman on Sunday. 

The Chinese team, the first Asian rescue mission that arrived in the disaster area, has been divided into several groups and joined the rank of local rescuers in search for survivors. 

A strong earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale rocked the Bam city on early Friday, destroying 90 percent of the buildings in the ancient Silk Road city. The Iranian Interior Ministry said Sunday over 20,000 people have been confirmed dead so far. 

At the Kerman airport, scores of injured people were waiting there for being transferred to other places for treatment and some soldiers were carrying some of them with makeshift stretchers.

Many Iranians have flown in from other parts of the country to inquire about their loved ones and weeps were heard now and again. The airport was engulfed in sorrow and sadness. 

Meanwhile, the earthquake has led to disruption of water and power supply, and communication in the city. Mobile phones have become the only approach for contact. 

(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2003)