People who were trapped in Yingxiu Town
are transferred by soldiers to safe places in Wenchuan County, southwest
China's Sichuan Province, May 14, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
YINGXIU TOWNSHIP, Sichuan, May 14 (Xinhua) -- More
than 200 soldiers have arrived at Yingxiu township, one of the worst-hit areas
near the epicenter of Monday's earthquake that killed more than 12,000 people.
They are engaged in search and rescue work.
Four Xinhua reporters traveled with the soldiers and
reached the site 44 hours after the quake. They were the first journalists on
the scene.
Four Xinhua reporters along with the
troops arrive in Wenchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May
14, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
A photo sent back by the reporters shows a dozen
local people, with their luggage, waiting anxiously at the river bank where the
soldiers' boats landed.
In another photo, three soldiers, who had helped
locals take a boat, distributed life-vests to them. The local people were to be
evacuated to safer places.
On the third photo, a group of soldiers in battle
fatigues carrying huge backpacks were trekking through the mountainous region,
where long and deep gaps had been rent in the ground by the earthquake.
People trapped in Yingxiu Town wait for
the rescuers in Wenchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May
14, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
According to He Biao, deputy secretary-general of the
Aba prefectural government, the population of Yingxiu was more than 10,000.
Only some 2,300 people have been confirmed as alive,
and 1,000 of those have sustained serious injuries.
"There is an urgent need for medical staff, medicine,
food and drinking water," He said.
BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- By 8 a.m. Wednesday,
more than 800 armed police had arrived at Wenchuan and started rescue operation
in southwest China's Sichuan Province that was hit by a massive earthquake
Monday afternoon.
Wednesday morning, two helicopters with relief
supplies flied over the Yingxiu Town of Wenchuan County and three more are
standing by to await orders at the Fenghuanshang airport, according to the
Chengdu Military Command. Full story
