Supplies and military personnel have been sent to the area to speed up relief work.

Supplies and military personnel have been sent to the area to speed up relief work.

A Tibetan quake victim said, "The soldiers arrived soon after the earthquake. They kept shouting our names and digging with their hands in the debris. All 8 members of my family were saved by them."

PLA soldier Yao Changqing said, "My troops were among the first to arrive at the epicenter. We have found about 30 people and transferred 18 severely wounded people."

Communication was restored 5 hours after the quake. Large quantities of supplies, including rice, flour, clothes and bottled water have been sent to the victims after rescuers opened a main road Tuesday.

Local officials say the biggest challenge now is to provide heat for the tents.

The earthquake jolted Damxung county at 4:30 P-M on Monday, and hundreds of houses collapsed.

Authorities say no major damage occurred at historical sites in Tibet, including the famous Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple.

Classes ended early in schools in Lhasa, where the quake was also felt.

(CCTV October 8, 2008)