A deadly gas field blowout happened in Kaixian County in northeast of Chongqing Municipality in southwest China on Dec. 23. After the accident, the troops garrisoned in Chongqing and local militia and the reserve forces swiftly rushed to the disaster area to help with rescue and relief operation. Till this manuscript sent to the press, 40 officers and men from the anti-chemical company of a group army, 4 transport vehicles, and 2 decontamination vehicles have rushed to the site.

　　After the accident, Duan Shuchun, political commissar of the Chongqing Garrison, held an emergency rescue and disaster relief meeting to organize officers and men to participate in rescue and disaster relief operation; the garrison also sent a work team headed by Chief of Staff Lan Xianzhong, to rush to the disaster area to exercise on-site command over rescue and relief operation. Meanwhile the People's Armed Forces Department of Kaixian County has organized militia and the reserve forces to participate in relief operation. The reporter learned from the operation duty office of the Chongqing Garrison that till 22:30 yesterday, 740 militiamen had been sent to the disaster area and they had helped to evacuate more than 30,000 people to the safe areas. With the approval of the garrison, the leaders and staff of the People's Armed Forces Department of Kaixian County have rushed to the natural gas well blowout site to ignite natural gas with submachine guns and signal guns so as to avoid poisoned gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, to harm the people. Besides, they are also assisting the local governments to stabilize emotions of the victims and maintain the public order. Sun Zibing, director of the People's Armed Forces Department and Political Commissar Zhou Yun have been at the disaster area, exercising command over the militiamen and the reserve forces in rescue and relief operation.

　　As the disaster covers a large area and many people are being affected, moreover, it is in the depth of winter now, the disaster victims are faced with many difficulties. Therefore, the troops in Chongqing have already started to prepare clothes, quilts and medicines for victims, which will be delivered to the disaster area in days.

　　By Shui Li and Jiang Xinghua

　　(December 26, PLA Daily)