President Hu Jintao directed rescue and relief work at the epicenter in Wenchuan County and the severely-hit city of Pengzhou on Saturday. Amid aftershocks, Hu Jintao called on local authorities and rescuers to keep saving lives as their top priority and disinfect the area to prevent epidemics.

It's a long and tough road. The just-repaired highway into the epicenter, Wenchuan, is still extremely rough.

After travelling across shattered roads, split tunnels and temporary bridges, Hu Jintao reached Xuankou, one of the worst-stricken town in the epicenter.

Everything is devastated here. The first thing the President asked was if all the injured have been taking care of.

The power station in the town is completely gone. Soldiers, and armed police are clearing the debris here.

Hu Jintao discussed the relief work at the scene. He asked local authorities to improve coordination and efficiency to save as many lives as possible.

At one rescue scene, Hu Jintao praised the rescuers for their hard work.

Hu Jintao said, "After the massive earthquake struck, you firmly executed the central government's orders and entered the epicenter immediately. You have put difficulties and danger behind."

Hu's speech was interrupted by aftershocks.

Hu Jintao said, "You have fully devoted yourselves to the rescue and relief work and made considerable contributions."

Hu Jintao ordered rescuers to race against time and do their utmost to save lives. He also asked rescuers to take care of themselves and search everywhere for survivors.

Hu Jintao said, "Being in the township is not enough. Rescue work should be expanded into every village. You should organize sufficient teams and dispatch them to all the villages in each and every possible way."

Hu then went to a local aluminum plant. It was newly-built and should have started production one day after the day the earthquake hit. Now, there is only rubble left.

Hu Jintao offered his sympathy to the plant's manager and workers. He required local leaders to help all the quake-hit businesses recover as soon as possible.

As he left Xuankou Town, the President met a rescue team of armed police from south China. The medical team has just finished examining survivors in nearby towns and villages.

Hu Jintao met another rescue team of special police from Shanghai on his way. After their briefing, the President ordered authorities to send food, drinking water and tents to remote quake-hit areas soon.

After leaving Wenchuan, Hu Jintao arrived at a town in the severely-hit Pengzhou City.

He met a disinfection team working along the streets and called on the local authority to make disinfection an important task.

Hu Jintao said, "First of all, you must make saving lives as your top priority. At the same time, I think you can also speed up cleaning debris and arrange people's daily lives better, to prepare for rebuilding homes. "

Hu Jintao arrived in the epicenter on Friday to oversee and direct the rescue and relief work, as the estimated death toll rose to over 50,000.

(CCTV May 18, 2008)