China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has dispatched a
rescue and salvation squad to help recovery operations off the
coast of Fujian Province after the devastation of
Typhoon Saomai earlier this month.
The squad includes two salvation ships and six other vessels as
well as over 80 divers and almost 400 wrecking specialists to help
in the search for vessels that went missing off Fuding City.
So far, the Navy rescuers have helped comb 600,000 square meters
of sea area, rescuing 93 people and recovering 14 bodies, located
134 wrecked or sunken boats, and refloated three sunken vessels,
said Navy sources.
Saomai struck on Aug. 10, leaving 202 people dead, 952 vessels
sunk and 1,139 boats damaged in Fuding.
Navy personnel are also helping restore transport and
sanitation, and distributing food and providing medical
services.
(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2006)