China to continue releasing updates on Gyirong rescue efforts

China will continue to provide timely updates on the latest developments regarding rescue operations in the Gyirong disaster zone, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.

Forty-three people have been confirmed dead, and 519 others remain missing after a mudslide struck Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on August 26.

At a press conference, Mao said international media had closely followed the disaster and expressed interest in visiting the affected area for reporting.

After round-the-clock efforts restored preliminary road access to the disaster zone, China invited journalists from eight foreign media outlets to visit the core affected area, where they learned about the situation on the ground, rescue efforts and recovery progress, the spokesperson said.

The journalists also attended a meeting between Chinese and foreign media held by the Xizang local government, Mao said, adding that related reports had already been published.

China will continue to make every effort to carry out search and rescue operations and post-disaster response, and will promptly release the latest information on the situation on the ground and rescue efforts, Mao said.

(Cover: File photo of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. /VCG)