First rescue workers reach quake's epicenter

JIANG YOU, China (CNN) - The first of 1,300 medical and rescue workers have reached the remote epicenter of Monday's strong earthquake, China's official news agency, Xinhua, reported Tuesday.

A Chinese Civil Affairs Ministry official said his country welcomes foreign donations of money and materials, but it is not ready for outside teams of rescue and relief workers because its transportation system couldn't handle the additional traffic.

Roads blocked by rocks and mudslides had hampered the effort to reach the epicenter in Wenchuan County, forcing military doctors and soldiers to walk to reach the area almost 24 hours after the 7.9 magnitude earthquake shook central China, Xinhua said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao ordered the military to make it a top priority to open the roads into Wenchuan County, home to about 100,000 people, by mid-day Tuesday. The premier arrived in the earthquake zone Monday to personally direct the relief efforts.