Soldiers begin daunting task at epicenter

More than 600 soldiers yesterday reached Yingxiu township of Wenchuan - the epicenter of Monday's 7.8 magnitude quake - where not a single building was intact, Xinhua reported.

PLA officer Zhi Liusuo said the first group of 200 soldiers reached Yingxiu by powerboat early yesterday morning; and another 400 arrived last night.

Rescue work was difficult because of a lack of equipment; and soldiers were digging with their hands.