Road repair work continues in an all-out, day and night effort in the quake-hit areas in Sichuan. The Ministry of Transport announced that by 8:30 Thursday morning, road repair crews working from four directions have achieved a breakthrough in Wenchuan County.

The Ministry of Transport announced that by 8:30 Thursday morning, road repair crews working from four directions have achieved a breakthrough in Wenchuan County.

On the west line: national highway G317 from Maerkang through Lixian to Wenchuan has been opened as far as Taoping. That's just 18 kilometers from Wenchuan. Repair work on another route, S303 from Danba through Xiaojin to Yingxiu remains open open as far as Dengsheng. Several areas on the the 98-kilometer stretch between Dengsheng and Yingxiu are flooded, hampering restoration as well as rescue operations.

On the north line: road crews on route G213 from Shaba to Maoxian have reached Laolongwan. That's still 28 kilometers from Maoxian.

Along the eastern route: Line S302 from Beichuan to Maoxian has been repaired as far as Feihong Bridge, 28 kilometers from Maoxian. There is severe damage along the remainder of the route. Work is reported to be very difficult. More repair crews are on the way to assist.

On the south route: Repair work on the section of route G213 from Dujiangyan through Yingxiu to Wenchuan is moving slowly. Crews are impeded by the geographic locale and by landslides triggered by three aftershocks Wednesday. There are still 30 kilometers of roadway between the road gangs and Yingxiu.

Faced with these conditions, the rescue command center recommends that rescue teams enter Yingxiu and Wenchuan by water and on foot.

(CCTV May 16, 2008)