The first batch of 100 elite soldiers were parachuted into an area near the epicenter of Monday's earthquake in southwest China Wednesday afternoon.

The paratroopers landed safely in cut-off Maoxian County, northeast of the epicenter Wenchuan on 12:20 PM. The plane they had boarded previously landed safely 30 minutes later in Chengdu, the provincial capital.

The paratroopers were selected from the airborne special force.

China planned to parachute troops and supplies into Wenchuan on Tuesday, but later called off the action due to unfavorable weather conditions including thunderstorms and heavy rain.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2008)