Search and recovery operations are in full swing at the core zone of the mudslide disaster in Gyirong Port, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, with multi-agency teams working around the clock to clear debris, locate missing persons and prevent secondary disasters.
A fast-moving chain mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal, struck Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border on Aug 26. Twenty-one people have been confirmed dead and 541 others remain missing, according to the regional government's latest update.
The port area, where the mudslide split into two streams, with one flowing upstream into the Gyirong Zangbo River and the other extending dozens of kilometers downstream into Nepal, has become the epicenter of the disaster. The G216 national highway, which was damaged by the mudslide, was fully reopened on Wednesday, allowing more personnel and heavy equipment to access the site.
The first priority is road clearing and search operations. At noon on Thursday, armed police, firefighters and engineering crews from China Anneng were using heavy machinery to remove debris. Mudslide deposits at the site average about four meters in thickness, with sections reaching up to 10 meters above the newly cleared highway.
With road access restored, search efforts have expanded to key areas including the joint inspection building, parking lots and dormitory facilities, using specialized equipment for deeper and more thorough searches.
Secondary disaster prevention is another critical focus. Given the complex terrain and geological conditions, authorities have deployed laser video AI monitors, slope radar and other detection equipment to provide round-the-clock surveillance of surrounding slopes.
The AI monitor can detect slope movements as small as 0.1 millimeters and generate alerts within one second to warn safety personnel. Weather forecasts are updated every six hours, and evacuation routes are in place to ensure worker safety.
Meanwhile, medical and epidemic prevention teams from Lhasa Customs and the Xizang Military Command are conducting round-the-clock disinfection operations across the site, focusing on access routes and areas with heavy machinery to maintain sanitary conditions.
Rescue teams are operating in shifts to keep machinery running continuously, with search operations proceeding without interruption.
Search operations intensify at core zone of mudslide-hit Gyirong Port
