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More than 200 soldiers Monday arrived at Yingxiu township, Wenchuan County, the epicenter of Monday's earthquake that jolted southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua Photo) |
More than 200 soldiers have arrived at Yingxiu township, one of the worst-hit areas near the epicenter of Monday's deadly 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.
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.
"Medical staff, medicine, food and drinking water are in urgent need," He said.
