Rescuers struggle to reopen Gyirong Port route as lake overflows

Firefighters, road maintenance crews and other agencies were working in dangerous conditions Friday to reopen a damaged route toward Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, as rising risks from a barrier lake, rainfall and secondary geological disasters complicated the search for missing people.

On Wednesday morning, a mudslide that began on the Nepalese side of the border caused major casualties at Gyirong Port in Gyirong county. Preliminary figures showed that, as of 8 am on Thursday, three people had been killed and 558 others were missing on the Chinese side of the border. In Nepal, police say the death toll has risen to 469.

The disaster cut off roads, communications and power between Gyirong township and the port.

At a road repair site about 2.8 kilometers from the border gate, rescuers said nearly 1 kilometer of the damaged road had been reopened, while about 1.8 kilometers remained blocked. Rescue teams in the area are continuing repair work with mechanical equipment.

On Friday, it was reported that a barrier lake upstream of Gyirong Port had begun to overflow, making it extremely dangerous to approach badly hit areas due to the risk of new mountain torrents or mudslides.

However, Xia Mingyong, a member of the Lhasa fire and rescue mobile detachment, said rescuers were trying to advance by both land and water.

"On land, we mainly plan to move toward the port on foot. On water, we are preparing to use rubber boats to reach the affected area near the port for search and rescue," Xia said.

He said the team had not yet fully assessed conditions in the core disaster area and was still moving toward the port, adding that the specific rescue plan will depend on what they find after arrival.

At the scene, rescuers were seen preparing water rescue equipment. Because the road ahead had been washed away and river water had overflowed toward the mountain slope, access remained extremely difficult and slow.

Jigme Dorji, Party chief of the Nyalam maintenance section of the Shigatse highway development center, said the section was organizing emergency road clearance and repair work. More than 20 workers and eight pieces of machinery, including four excavators and four loaders, had been deployed.

People from local agencies and enterprises are also working on the operation, with personnel and machinery engaged in emergency access restoration.