The Hydro-power Corps of the Chinese People's Armed Police (PAP), has deployed four task forces in quake-hit Sichuan province in southwest in southwest China, PAP sources said.

The four teams, comprising 662 soldiers, are searching for survivors and repairing roads in Sifang, Wenchuan and Dujiangyan.

In Shifang county, two task forces with 360 soldiers have rescued 16 survivors and found 50 bodies from the collapsed buildings of two middle schools.

The third task force, comprising of 150 servicemen, are racing against time to repair the damaged road from Lixian county to Wenchuan county, the epicenter of the strong quake that hit Sichuan Monday.

The fourth task force, with 152 soldiers, are trying to open a new road from Dujiangyan city to Wenchuan. The old road has been blocked at several points by landslides.

The hydropower corps is a special division of the PAP that are engaged in the development of hydropower stations and have rich engineering experiences.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2008)