1.5 million prefab houses will be built for people left homeless by the earthquake on May 12th. Construction has already started. Survivors are expected to move in by the end of this month.

In Jiangyou city, prefabs will be built for 50,000 people on sixty hectares of converted farmland.

Li Zhenchang, Beijing Urban Construction Group said "Tap water, electricity and natural gas will all be connected to the community. There will also be hospitals and schools."

Four other similar communities will be built nearby, to accommodate 360,000 homeless quake survivors.

Beijing municipal government says more than 1000 of its staff will work on the project.

Song Kaihui, Jiangyou Mayor said "The five communities will provide prefabs for more than 80,000 families. Half of the homeless families will get a place to live in about a month."

More prefabricated houses are being built in Leigu township of Beichuan County, one of the worst-hit areas by the tremor.

Current temporary shelters are crowded, and as the temperature climbs, more housing is urgently needed.

There is a lack of flat land in the mountainous county, so engineers have invented ways of building back to back prefabs to save room.

Tian Zhuang, General Director of Jinan Construction Brigade said "Experts from design institutes in Jinan City helped us draw up the blueprint for the community. All major utilities such as tap water and electricity will be installed."

Homeless people have also been given daily necessities like quilts, toiletries and even washing powder.

4000 prefabs will be completed by the end of this month, housing 12,000 people. Five households will share a kitchen in the temporary communities.

(CCTV June 4, 2008)