A 200-strong contingent of the People's Armed Police stationed in Sichuan, led by regimental staff officer Wang Yi, set out from Lixian County and covered 90 kilometers on foot. They arrived at Wenchuan County at 11:15 p.m. on May 13 and became the first rescue team to reach the county seat. Currently, this unit is carrying out rescue operations in the county seat and Longxi Township.
According to regimental commander Shen Tao, the command center located in Chengdu got in touch with staff officer Wang Yi leading the rescue team at dawn on May 14. Wang Yi reported that the local county government disaster relief command center had confirmed his 200 soldiers were the first rescue team to arrive at Wenchuan County. The remaining 470 officers and soldiers of the regiment are expected to arrive after daybreak on May 14.
After arriving, the unit immediately contacted the joint command of Wenchuan. It was learned that the damage to houses in the county seat was serious. It has been confirmed that 500 people have died. The disaster situation in nearby Longxi Township and Yingxiu Town is more severe than in the county seat.