Special report: Reconstruction After Earthquake

Militiamen search for a missing helicopter in the Zhaogong Mountain near Dujiangyan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 2, 2008. A military transport helicopter engaging in quake relief work near Yingxiu Town was missing on May 31. There were altogether 19 people on board the helicopter, including five crew members and 14 injured local residents. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Search continues for crashed China quake-relief helicopter

    CHENGDU, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The search continued in China on Monday for a crashed military transport helicopter engaging in quake relief work.

    As of 9 p.m. Monday, the helicopter was still missing and no one onboard has been found. More than 10,000 soldiers and local residents have joined the hunt.

    "The current priority is to search the helicopter and the people onboard by any means," said Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, at an emergency meeting for the search and rescue mission.

    Meanwhile, Guo stressed that the search team should ensure their own safety while doing the search work.

    The military has deployed 1,240 troopers, divided into eight groups, to undertake a blanket search of suspected crash sites.   Full story

Helicopter crashes while on duty in quake zones

    CHENGDU, June 1 (Xinhua) -- A military transport helicopter engaging in quake relief work near the Yingxiu Township, Wenchuan County in Southwest China's Sichuan Province crashed on Saturday afternoon, according to military sources.

    A crew of five and 14 injured local residents were on board for transfer when the Mi-171 helicopter with the quake relief troops of the Chengdu Military Area Command crashed at 2:56 p.m., the military sources said. Full story