Relief, rescue progress at mudslide-hit border port in SW China's Xizang

Relief, rescue progress at mudslide-hit border port in SW China's Xizang

Source:Xinhua 2026-09-01

This aerial drone photo shows excavators repairing a section of national highway G216 in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, on Aug. 31, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

GYIRONG, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- A deadly mudslide, caused by an ice-rock avalanche in Nepal, hit Gyirong Port in China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Aug. 26, claiming 16 lives and leaving 546 others missing at the border port as of 6 p.m. Saturday, according to the regional government. It swept through the area and destroyed buildings, power supplies and a section of the G216, seriously hampering emergency response and rescue efforts.
A total of 2,141 personnel have joined search and rescue operations, including personnel from the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, the China Search and Rescue Team, China Anneng, border defense units and police officers.
Despite difficulties such as high-altitude terrain, steep valleys and volatile weather, rescuers are pushing forward into the core disaster area, carrying out road mud removal, search and rescue operations, hazard identification, disinfection and epidemic prevention.
Communications have been restored at the core rescue site, allowing phone calls with rescuers at the port via a newly-built base station on Sunday, according to the regional communications administration.
This aerial drone photo shows excavators repairing a section of national highway G216 in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, on Aug. 31, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Communication support workers search for damaged optical cables at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Communication support workers search for damaged optical cables at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)
Communication support workers set up a 4G/5G base station at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Rescuers and sniffer dogs search for the missing at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
A rescuer and his sniffer dog search for the missing at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Rescuers and sniffer dogs search for the missing at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)
Workers conduct disinfection operations at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
A worker conducts disinfection for rescuers at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

GYIRONG, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- A deadly mudslide, caused by an ice-rock avalanche in Nepal, hit Gyirong Port in China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Aug. 26, claiming 16 lives and leaving 546 others missing at the border port as of 6 p.m. Saturday, according to the regional government. It swept through the area and destroyed buildings, power supplies and a section of the G216, seriously hampering emergency response and rescue efforts.
A total of 2,141 personnel have joined search and rescue operations, including personnel from the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, the China Search and Rescue Team, China Anneng, border defense units and police officers.
Despite difficulties such as high-altitude terrain, steep valleys and volatile weather, rescuers are pushing forward into the core disaster area, carrying out road mud removal, search and rescue operations, hazard identification, disinfection and epidemic prevention.
Communications have been restored at the core rescue site, allowing phone calls with rescuers at the port via a newly-built base station on Sunday, according to the regional communications administration.
This aerial drone photo shows excavators repairing a section of national highway G216 in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, on Aug. 31, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Communication support workers search for damaged optical cables at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Communication support workers search for damaged optical cables at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)
Communication support workers set up a 4G/5G base station at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Rescuers and sniffer dogs search for the missing at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
A rescuer and his sniffer dog search for the missing at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Rescuers and sniffer dogs search for the missing at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)
Workers conduct disinfection operations at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
A worker conducts disinfection for rescuers at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

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