Rescue teams intensify search in core zone of mudslide-hit Gyirong

Search and rescue operations continue after a devastating mudslide swept through Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, on August 26.

The mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal, had left 43 people dead and 519 others missing at the border port as of 6 p.m. Saturday, officials told a press conference.

As of 6 p.m. Saturday, more than 2,500 people and over 500 vehicles had been deployed to join rescue operations, and more than 1,000 flights of drones had air-dropped 5.43 tonnes of supplies, the emergency response and rescue headquarters said on Sunday.

Ren Wei, commander of the frontline headquarters and executive vice-chairman of the regional government, said searches will continue under the existing plan to ensure the core disaster area is covered as thoroughly as possible.

Reporters from the US, UK, Russia, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Brazil and other countries were invited for on-site reporting at Gyirong Port from September 5 to 6. They also attended the briefing in Xizang on Sunday.

Comprehensive support for affected families

Authorities have also taken steps to support families of those killed or missing, assigning dedicated personnel to maintain one-on-one contact, assist family members, respond to their concerns and provide psychological counseling.

A 24-hour dedicated hotline was opened for families of Chinese nationals killed or missing in the disaster. The hotlines are staffed by Mandarin, Tibetan, English and Nepali speakers. As of 6 p.m. on Saturday, they had received 675 calls, while 791 family members had been received in person and 640 had been provided with accommodation.

For families of Chinese nationals:

0892-8980106

0892-8980107

A total of 499 residents from four villages in Sare Township were relocated, with medical, educational, basic living and psychological support provided. Based on expert assessments, authorities are now organizing their return in an orderly manner and working to restore normal production and living conditions.

Cross‑border humanitarian support ramped up

Authorities also confirmed that 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries remain missing in the disaster.

Relevant information has been promptly shared with the embassies of the countries concerned in China through diplomatic channels. 

A 24‑hour dedicated hotline has been opened for family members of missing foreign nationals. It has received 509 calls in total, with timely updates provided to families who called.

For families of foreign nationals:

+86-891-6817165

+86-183-0802-6705

Communication and information‑notification mechanisms have also been established with relevant countries. Through the China‑Nepal disaster‑prevention information notification channel, China shares daily meteorological, hydrological, glacial‑lake and glacier‑related data with Nepal. 

At Nepal's request, the Chinese government has dispatched specialists in tunnel rescue and DNA identification and provided emergency supplies. 

Challenges in rescue operations

Officials noted the disaster‑stricken region features rugged high mountains, deep valleys, volatile weather conditions and an abundance of glaciers and glacial lakes, where geological risks are widely distributed. The catastrophe inflicted heavy damage on the G216 National Highway linking Gyirong Port, while knocking out local power and communication services.

Complicating rescue efforts are recurrent landslides, thick mud accumulations and drastic high‑altitude temperature fluctuations. Persistent perils including rockfalls, slope collapses and potential barrier‑lake hazards keep posing threats to rescue teams, rendering the on‑ground operation considerably more arduous than standard geological‑disaster relief missions.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Li Hongjun, a rescuer from the China Anneng Group, highlighted the difficulties the rescuers had met. "First, we were working right alongside the water. The river channel was extremely narrow, with very fast-moving water and a very high flow rate. Second, we were working along an unstable edge. There were still large amounts of sediment on the left bank that could collapse at any time, making the operation extremely risky."

Search and rescue for the missing

Officials said that prior to the road reopening, rescue efforts were conducted via land, water and air. Rescue teams deployed assault craft and rubber boats for water‑borne access to the disaster‑hit core zone, while 24 helicopter sorties transported rescue personnel, supplies and equipment. On land, rescuers traveled along a mountain‑road detour that took 12 hours to arrive at the core area.

Following the road's reopening at 10 a.m. on September 2, in‑depth search operations got underway within the core disaster zone. Authorities set up six specialized groups and seven rescue teams, adopting a strategy focused on opening access routes first, carrying out zonal searches and maintaining multi‑team coordination. Rescuers searched, cleared and searched again layer by layer, carrying out multiple rounds of intensive searches across the core area.

As of 6 p.m. on Saturday, two people had been rescued and 993 personal belongings recovered.

Guarding against potential secondary collapses

According to the press conference, over 100 experts and technical professionals from relevant fields have been mobilized to monitor possible secondary collapses, landslides and mudslides around the barrier lake and the source areas of the ice-rock collapse. Geological hazard surveys have also been carried out along routes leading toward the border.

Officials added that more than 150 units of specialized gear have been brought in. The inventory covers 105 multi‑factor monitoring devices, including slope radars, integrated radar‑video surveillance systems, drone mapping tools, mud‑flow and water‑level sensors, as well as meteorological instruments.

Such monitoring capabilities enable close tracking of downstream risks posed by secondary mudslides, amid persistent rainfall and high‑temperature conditions.

Restoration of functions in areas surrounding Gyirong to be studied

Officials said authorities will conduct an in-depth assessment of surrounding disaster risks and evaluate the restoration of relevant functions in areas around Gyirong.

Since the Gyirong customs office was established in 1962, China and Nepal, building on historical foundations, have each extended their respective boundary‑adjacent highways, gradually achieving connectivity of roads, bridges, national border gates and inspection facilities.

In 1981, China and Nepal designated Resuwa and Gyirong as border trade points, and access for third‑country nationals was opened in August 2017. With a long history, sound transport conditions and frequent people‑to‑people exchanges, Gyirong Port is a well‑equipped land‑based trade gateway linking China with Nepal, officials said.