Armed Police Force soldiers save people trapped after earthquake in Sichuan

Armed police soldiers rescue trapped people at the scene. (Photo by He Yunxiao, People’s Daily Online)

The Chinese Armed Police Force (AFP) in Yibin launched an emergency rescue operation to the quake-stricken area immediately after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Changning County of Yibin in southwest China’s Sichuan Province at 10:55 p.m. Monday.

An AFP emergency platoon in the county rushed to the epicenter and formed two groups to clear the roads and conduct rescue work.

Cao Shangui, commander of the Sichuan Contingent of the AFP, supervised the disaster-relief operation.

758 rescue workers, including officers and soldiers from other AFP detachments in Sichuan and members of specialized medical rescue teams, participated in the rescue operation.

As of 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, armed police soldiers have saved six people trapped in the earthquake, transferred 556 people to safe areas, delivered 12 tons of rescue supplies and put up 120 tents.

The epicenter, with a depth of 16 km, was monitored at 28.34 degrees north latitude and 104.90 degrees east longitude.