The huge earthquake that struck Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, on May 12 caused thousands of casualties and massive damage to property.

Peking University's Number Three Hospital immediately set up a relief team made up of its most senior medical staff.

Peking University Number Three Hospital emergency medical team setting off for Sichuan this morning

The team, lead by the hospital's Deputy Director Liu Xiaoguang, includes associate professors of the orthopedics department Tian Yun and Zeng Yan, doctor-in-charge Wang Shenglin, orthopedic nurses Luo Tianhui and Liu Tianjiao, and emergency room nurse Zhang Nan.

The team is part of the first batch of emergency medical staff to leave Beijing for on-the-spot rescue work in the disaster area.

In the early hours of May 13, team members were instructed to be ready to leave by 7 AM. By 9 AM they had assembled for departure, taking with them medicines worth 50,000 yuan, surgical equipment worth 10,000 yuan, and day to day supplies.

They joined staff from 8 other Beijing hospitals contributing to the Beijing Emergency Medical Team and immediately set off to Sichuan from Nanyuan Airport.

(China.org.cn by Wu Huanshu, May 13, 2008)