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)