43 dead, 519 missing after mudslide hits border port in China's Xizang: official

Forty-three people were confirmed dead with 519 others missing as of 18:00 Saturday from the mudslide that struck Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on August 26, local emergency response and rescue authorities said on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference held in Gyirong County, Ren Wei, executive vice chairman of the regional government, revealed the casualty and briefed media on the search and rescue operations.

"As of 18:00 on September 5, the disaster claimed 43 deaths and left 519 others missing," he said.

According to Ren, rescuers tried to reach the core area of the mudslide-stricken Gyirong Port from land, river and air all together as the roads were blocked by the mud and rocks.

They rode inflatable boats and rubber dinghies by waterways toward the core zone, while 24 helicopter sorties ferried rescue teams and supplies. Other rescuers trekked over 12 hours in mountains to access the core area, he said.

"As of 18:00 on September 5, more than 2,500 people and over 500 vehicles had been deployed for rescue operations, and more than 1,000 flights of drones had air-dropped 5.43 tons of supplies. Round-the-clock monitoring has been conducted on slopes, valley mouths and shifts of piled-up muds, rocks and other objects and variation of subsidence, so as to provide security guarantee for the rescue work. As of 18:00 on September 5, two people had been rescued and 993 pieces of personal belongings recovered," said Ren.

Ren said that deeper search of the core area began after the road was reopened at 10:00 on September 2.

Elaborating on the current rescue efforts, Ren said that six specialized teams and seven rescue teams, totaling around 700 people, are combing through the core area, digging and searching every layer of debris before clearing it away in designated zones, with coordination from other departments.

The rescuers have carried out multiple rounds of such intensive operations for over 12 days, he added.

Ren said that the operation has covered the entire core zone, while preventive environmental disinfection throughout the area was also carried out, and 5G signals and electricity supply have been fully restored.

43 dead, 519 missing after mudslide hits border port in China's Xizang: official

International media on Saturday and Sunday visited the core disaster area of mudslide-hit Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

The reporters from the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Brazil among other countries and regions visited the area and learned about the disaster situation, ongoing rescue operations, and progress in recovery and reconstruction.

"China has this particular the capacity to address this kind of crisis. You have thousands of workers trained for this and you have machines made for this kind of efforts. And of course, our heart goes to them for the kind of work they are putting," said KJM Varma Mokanda, a reporter from Press Trust of India.

The mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal on Aug 26, had left 43 people dead and 519 others missing at the border port as of 18:00 Saturday, the emergency response and rescue headquarters told a press conference on Sunday.

As of 18:00 Saturday, more than 2,500 people and over 500 vehicles had been deployed for the rescue, and more than 1,000 flights of drones had air-dropped 5.43 tons of supplies, officials said at the press conference.

International media visit mudslide-hit Gyirong Port