As of 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, more than 800 armed policemen had arrived at the epicentre Wenchuan County and started rescue operations in southwest China's Sichuan Province. They are racing against time to do what they can to save survivors of the deadly earthquake. Meanwhile, two helicopters with relief supplies flew over the Yingxiu Town of Wenchuan County and three more are standing by.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Monday Wednesday arrive at Yingxiu Town of Wenchuan County, the epicenter of Monday's earthquake that jolted southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua Photo)

The first contingent of over 200 armed police arrived in Wenchuan county 11:00 p.m. Tuesday. They were the first rescue team to reach the epicenter of Monday's deadly quake.

According to senior police officers, the team immediately started rescue operations upon their arrival.

They said Wenchuan county had suffered severe damage. But the policemen reported that the situation there is still better than that of nearby Longxi and Yingxiu townships.

Meanwhile, a senior PLA officer said over 2000 paratroopers arrived in Shifang city and Mianzhu county on Tuesday afternoon, both badly-hit areas in Sichuan province. 100 soldiers are also ready to parachute into the epicenter of Wenchuan for disaster relief efforts.

He said rescue operations by soldiers there are underway and that reinforcements are expected to reach the two regions soon.

It's the first time that PLA paratroopers have been sent to carry out rescue work in disaster-relief efforts.

As of Tuesday evening, nearly 20,000 soldiers and armed policemen had arrived in Sichuan province, with 30,000 more troops making their way towards the quake-hit regions by planes, trains and trucks - and on foot.

Meanwhile, 11 military planes were mobilized to send relief personnel to the quake-stricken areas, with 30 flights scheduled on Tuesday alone.

Seventeen medical teams from the PLA have left for the disaster area. The military emergency response office and emergency response mechanism are working around the clock.

On Monday, rescuers were stranded outside Wenchuan as roads were blocked by boulders and rocks following the earthquake.

Over 15,000 military reserves from Sichuan Province, as well as neighboring Gansu and Chongqing, are helping rescue efforts and assisting the armed forces on the ground to clear routes to the epicenter.

China's Central Military Commission has authorized the Chengdu Military Area Command to direct all the rescue efforts by armed forces.

(CCTV May 15, 2008)