Rescuers are battling natural obstacles to reopen the main corridor to Gyirong border port in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, after a deadly mudslide on Wednesday cut off the land route.
The large-scale rescue operation is continuing after the mudslide was triggered by a catastrophic glacier collapse in north Nepal, which sent a torrent of ice, rock, mud and water rushing across the China-Nepal border region, causing destruction in a matter of minutes.
The deadly mudslide had claimed 16 lives and left 546 others missing at Gyirong Port as of 18:00 Saturday, the regional government said on Sunday morning. And the death toll from the mudslide in Nepal has risen to 903, with 4,247 people still missing as of 09:00 local time on Monday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
China's Ministry of Emergency Management on Sunday dispatched 110 rescuers and 28 pieces of heavy equipment from China Anneng -- a state-owned engineering and rescue enterprise -- to clear debris from the damaged sections of the G216 national highway, a major road link through the area.
As of 12:00 Monday, the unblocking work has proceeded to approximately 1.1 kilometers away from fully clearing the damaged sections of the highway.
Rescuers said that Monday marks a crucial stage in the whole operation, as the working area is extremely narrow in the section. Challenges include the risk of rockfalls and landslides, rapid water flow eroding the roadbed, and the narrow working area in the river valley that restrict the use of large machinery.
To address these challenges, the rescue team adjusted the operating procedures. All trucks bringing in materials must, following instructions, first make a U-turn, then reverse to the work front point to unload stones, and then the excavator will carry out the filling operation, said the rescuers on site.
The emergency response team from China Anneng currently on site will work continuously from 07:00 to midnight, and then the group will replenish forces and adjust operation progress depending on weather conditions.
Chinese rescuers battle hazards to clear Gyirong highway in Xizang
