China's Air Force starts first airdrop in quake zones

BEIJING - The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force on Monday carried out its first airdrop operations in quake-hit Southwest China to deliver food and water for thousands of homeless survivors.

Loaded with bottled water, instant noodles and other food, an Air Force helicopter took off from Qionglai Airport to Baosheng township.

The Air Force has also deployed a second helicopter to drop food and water to Baosheng.

The weight of food and water by the two helicopters totals 2.6 tonnes, according to Air Force sources.

Since the quake hit mountainous Lushan County of southwest China's Sichuan Province on Saturday, roads to many remote towns were blocked by sliding rocks, leaving survivors facing food shortages.