Rescue operation underway after Xizang flood leaves 17 missing

Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region has activated a level four emergency response after a flood hit Gyirong county in the region on Tuesday morning, with 17 people missing.

According to a report by Xizang TV, the water level of the Donglin Tsangpo River in Gyirong county surged at around 5:45 on Tuesday morning, causing the collapse of the Rasuwa Bridge (Friendship Bridge) at Gyirong Port.

Following the incident, Wang Junzheng, Communist Party chief of Xizang, said he was treating the situation with the utmost importance and had issued instructions promptly, calling for no effort to be spared in searching for and rescuing the missing individuals.

On Tuesday, the city of Shigatse in the region promptly initiated a level III flood control and drought relief emergency response and a level III natural disaster relief emergency response. Emergency rescue teams were swiftly organized by various sectors, including emergency response, natural resources, water conservancy, transportation, power and communication.

Rescue operations are still underway.

palden_nyima@chinadaily.com.cn