China steps up monitoring of risk areas in mudslide-hit Gyirong

More than 2,300 rescuers, including 726 personnel from the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, have joined search and rescue operations at mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

The mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal on August 26, has left 31 people dead and 531 others missing in Xizang as of Saturday, according to the local emergency response and rescue command center.

So far, more than 400 vehicles, more than 8,000 sets of rescue equipment and over 800 drones have been deployed for deeper search operations.

In addition, charitable donations for relief efforts following the massive mudslide have exceeded 660 million yuan (about $98.34 million), according to China's Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Authorities have inspected and monitored 112 potential hazard sites, identifying a total of 58 geological hazard sites, including 7 high-risk areas. Drones have been deployed to cover 65 square kilometers of the affected area, while over 40 warning signs have been installed at medium-risk and high-risk locations. Additionally, dynamic checks and inspections are being carried out along the rescue routes to ensure ongoing safety. 

Normal water flow of previous barrier lake, 14 glacial lakes remain stable 

Official aerial surveys show a level of normal water flow in the upstream and downstream river channels of a previous barrier lake. The lake formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola River in Nepal and Purepu Zangbo River in China. Authorities say 14 glacial lakes also remain generally stable. Meteorological data shows that light to moderate rain is expected around Gyirong Port in the coming days. 

Slope radar deployed in hard-hit core area 

A slope radar system has been deployed in the core disaster-hit area of Gyirong Port to monitor secondary geological hazards. The radar equipment, capable of detecting millimeter-level ground displacements, is being used to monitor mountain slopes for potential landslides and collapses around the clock. 

According to the Ministry of Emergency Management, the National Work Safety Emergency Rescue Survey Team, together with two national tunnel rescue teams, has formed a joint monitoring group to operate the radar units in the core zone. The systems provide real-time data to on-site rescue commanders, enabling early warnings and timely evacuation in the event of imminent slope failures. 

Support for Nepal 

Nepali Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said China has provided Nepal with near-real-time information to help authorities stay alert for potential future disasters. He expressed deep gratitude for China's "very proactive support," which has included emergency cash, three batches of relief supplies, and the dispatch of tunnel rescue and DNA identification experts. 

The Nepali foreign minister noted that rescue operations remain extremely difficult as roads and bridges in the affected region are severely damaged, leaving some areas inaccessible by land. He added that hundreds of Nepali citizens on the Chinese side of the border have been properly accommodated by the Chinese authorities.

Khanal called for stronger Nepal-China cooperation in studying and preserving the Himalayan ecosystem, emphasizing that "the Himalayan ecosystem is our shared future," and urging joint efforts to address climate change challenges.

Read more: Nepal FM says China-shared data aids mudslides disaster response