HANGZHOU - A civil rescue team from China arrived at the quake-affected areas in Italy Thursday evening and has started rescue work there, official sources here said.

The Rescue Team of Ram Union, from east China's Zhejiang province sent three people to join quick relief in Italy, the provincial civil affairs department said.

A magnitude 6 earthquake devastated several mountainous towns in central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 250 people.

Xu Lijun, director of the Rescue Team of Ram Union, said the three rescuers have received professional training and have participated in international rescue work several times. They have taken life detectors and medical equipment with them.

The Italy branch of the rescue team sent 16 team members to join the rescue, including two doctors. They also bought relief goods for quake victims.

This is the fifth time that the Zhejiang branch of the Rescue Team of Ram Union have joined in rescue work overseas, including in Nepal, Pakistan and Ecuador.

Established in May 2009, it has also provided assistance during the Wenchuan earthquake in China's Sichuan province, the Yushu earthquake in Qinghai province and the Ludian earthquake in Yunnan province.