Russian is concluding its search and rescue operation in Japan. The first group of rescuers left Tokyo and headed to Khabarovsk, RIA Novosti cites the Far East Regional Center of the ministry as saying.
The An-74 plane is carrying some 50 rescuers back home. It will land in Khabarovsk at 18.00 (local time).
The most complex stage of clearing the earthquake and tsunami damage has ended.
Earlier reports said that the search operation in Japan involved 165 Russian rescuers. They operated in Sendai and Niigata. Over 100 people were rescued.
