Soldiers rescue local residents at Yangyi Village, the epicenter of the earthquake, in Gedar Township of Damxung County in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, in the early morning of Oct. 7, 2008. [Purbu Zhaxi/Xinhua]

PLA troops stationed in Lhasa were among the first to arrive after the quake. They helped people out of the ruins, pulled out dead bodies and visited every family to count missing.

At least 700 rescuers are at the site, with PLA soldiers putting up more tents hoping to accommodate all villagers by dusk. Health workers are examining villagers and sanitizing the area to prevent epidemics.

PLA soldiers and rescue dogs are searching through rubble in search of others who may be trapped.

Lamas have been called in to perform rituals for the quake dead before sky burials, a traditional funeral practice in Tibet.

(Xinhua News Agency October 7, 2008)