The Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has completed reconstruction of a school destroyed in last year's May 12 earthquake in the southwestern Sichuan Province.

The Air Force spent more than 70 million yuan (US$10.2 million) rebuilding the Yinghua August 1 School buildings, which are designed to resist 8-magnitude tremors according to the national standards.

The school compound covers 3.2 hectares, has a floor space of more than 7,000 square meters, and houses 24 classrooms and 1,200 students.

The facilities include a teaching building with multimedia equipment, a cultural hall, a dining hall, apartments for teachers and students, a sports ground, and a basketball court.

The Air Force would offer military training to teach the students patriotic and defense education, said an Air Force officer in charge of the project.

The earthquake left about 80,000 people dead or missing and forced the Chinese authorities to adopt higher standards for school buildings, particularly in earthquake-prone areas.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2009)