Soldiers from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) have rescued 1,200 people and treated more than 8,700 injured in the quake zone as of 12:00 a.m. Saturday, according to PLA quake-relief headquarters.

A spokesperson for the PLA quake-relief headquarters said in its first press conference held here that more than 12,300 soldiers had been sent to the quake zone and more than 11,300 had arrived to carry out rescue operations.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2010)