Rescue workers have pushed road-clearing operations to the core disaster area of the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, after days of round-the-clock work through heavy rain and treacherous terrain along the damaged G216 highway.
The deadly mudslide, which was triggered by the collapse of a high-altitude glacier on the Nepalese side of the border with China last Wednesday, has left at least 16 people dead and 546 others missing in Gyirong, according to the Xizang regional government.
By 00:33 Wednesday, the front line of road construction had reached the mudslide epicenter near the port, allowing rescue personnel to enter the worst-hit area overland for search operations. Heavy machinery was seen working under floodlights, with drones providing aerial lighting as rain intensified in the valley.
Earlier at around 21:00 Tuesday, rescuers had focused on a key bottleneck, a waterlogged stretch of about 50 meters had blocked the route. Workers dumped sand and gravel into the flooded section to create a passable path.
Despite worsening conditions, with rain continuing to fall through the night, heavy machinery operated continuously to expand the cleared section and enable deeper search efforts. The operation remains ongoing.
Rescuers push through overnight rain to open last section of Gyirong highway
