Rescue helicopters have been flown in to reach the hardest-hit areas of the Gyirong Port in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region following last week's devastating mudslide, with key supplies and personnel being sent to assist the ongoing rescue efforts on the frontlines of the disaster on the China-Nepal border.
The mudslide, triggered by the collapse of a high-altitude glacier on the Nepalese side last Wednesday morning, has left at least 16 people dead and 546 others missing in Gyirong on the Chinese side, according to the regional government.
A large-scale search and rescue operation is continuing as multiple rescue forces race against time to find survivors in the wake of the disaster, with the challenging terrain and weather conditions posing difficulties.
The core area of Gyirong Port remains covered by large amounts of mud and silt, which has made rescue operations more difficult, with the ground treacherous under foot for rescuers.
Footage shot on Monday afternoon showed a rescue helicopter landing on the sports grounds of a nearby school, with teams of rescuers loading supplies and boarding the aircraft bound for the devastated rescue area.
Specialist personnel, equipment and key supplies have been continuously airdropped by helicopters to those who are positioned at the disaster site.
Rescuers are working tirelessly as they look to dig their way through the deluge of debris and rocks, while sniffer dogs have also been deployed to aid the search.
The wider search effort was boosted when communications were restored in the core area, with the first emergency base station being put into operation near the border gate at the Gyirong Port on Sunday afternoon, according to telecoms provider China Unicom.
Rescue helicopters flown into hardest-hit zones of Gyirong Port after deadly mudslide
