12,000 soldiers continue search for missing copter

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Source: CCTV.com | 06-05-2008 08:33

Still no sign of a missing helicopter that went down on the weekend. Chinese President Hu Jintao has told soldiers to spare no effort to look for the helicopter which had 19 people onboard. More than 12,000 troops and paramilitary personnel are now searching for the crash site.

More than 12,000 troops and paramilitary personnel are now searching for the crash site.

Based on President Hu Jintao's instructions, the search will increase its efficiency. The Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Guo Boxiong, has urged troops to comb the area. He stressed that all the possible flying routes of the helicopter should be checked.

Chen Gehui, Chengdu Military Area Command said "Today we have sent more troops to search for the missing helicopter in a larger area. We have told the soldiers not to miss a single piece of land that each search group is responsible for."

The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Sichuan Seismic Bureau have also made suggestions for the rescue efforts. Local people also provided some information. The commanding headquarters sent troops to search based on that information, with no luck.

Commanders say it's possible the chopper may have disintegrated into pieces. The camouflage color of the chopper is same as the dense bush, making it hard to find. Steep mountains, landslides and slippery tracks are making the search even more difficult. The commanding center has promised to publicize the news as soon as the helicopter is found.

Editor:Xiong Qu