Accurate information is crucial to prevent further damage from the Wenchuan earthquake. Ever since disaster struck two weeks ago, a team from the China Seismological Bureau has been working at the forefront of relief work. They're monitoring the aftershocks, and assessing the damage and the safety level of housing.

Ever since disaster struck two weeks ago, a team from the China Seismological Bureau has been working at the forefront of relief work.

This is the command center for the team of experts from China's Seismological Bureau in Sichuan. Making do with a few locker rooms from a gymnasium in Dujiangyan City, the team has been working around the clock since the earthquake hit on May 12th.

The 400-member team serves as an information center for relief work. Using state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, experts are able to keep a constant watch over the movements of the earth's crust in potentially dangerous areas. They also maintain close consultations with seismologists and disaster-relief experts nationwide. Their top priority is to get a clear picture of any potential aftershocks.

Miao Chonggang, Rescue & Relief Dept. of China Seismological Bureau, said, "We brought over 1,000 sets of mobile monitoring equipment. Over 150 team members have been deployed to the worst-hit areas to focus on monitoring the trends of aftershocks. Our priority is to grasp the movement pattern and the precise destructive force of this magnitude 8 earthquake. "

So far, more than 8,400 aftershocks have been observed since the main earthquake hit Sichuan on May 12th.

Miao Chonggang said, "The monitoring stations originally set up in affected areas can only observe aftershocks with a magnitude greater than 3. With advanced equipment and intensified monitoring, we can detect aftershocks of magnitudes 1 or below on the Richter scale."

Damage assessment is another focus of their work. The team has sent more than 40 investigation groups to obtain accurate information all across the affected areas. Their research will be vital for the reconstruction of these regions.

(CCTV May 28, 2008)