Task forces scale mountains, brave torrents to save lives

Rescue teams are continuing to push toward the core mudslide-hit area in Gyirong county in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, through forested mountains and murky waters, as damaged roads, disrupted utilities, frequent rainfall and an overflowing barrier lake continue to complicate the dogged search for missing people.

Around 4:30 pm on Friday, six members from the first response team of the Xizang fire and rescue brigade and 15 members — along with one search-and-rescue dog — from the first response team of the Sichuan fire and rescue brigade reached the Gyirong border port, which bore the maximum brunt of the deadly mudslide on the Chinese side. These were the first professional rescue teams to reach the core area, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Even as damaged roads, disabled communication systems and snapped power supplies hindered rescue and relief efforts a day after the disaster, workers remained determined to achieve results. They cleared and repaired overnight a nearly 1-kilometer stretch of a 2.8-km approach road to the border gate.

Jigme Dorje, Party chief of the Nyalam maintenance section of the Shigatse highway development center, said eight machines — including four excavators and four loaders — and more than 20 workers were clearing and repairing the road. Local volunteers and enterprises are also supporting their efforts, he added.

Xia Mingyong, from the Lhasa fire and rescue mobile detachment, said the team's rescuers were advancing by land and water. "On land, we are mainly moving toward the border port on foot. In water, we are using rubber boats to reach the severely affected port area," he said.

On Friday, a barrier lake that formed upstream of Gyirong port topped 90 ‌million cubic feet of water, up from the estimated 50-70 million cubic feet recorded on Thursday, raising the risk of secondary disasters, agencies reported. The overflow sparked panic and warnings from Nepalese authorities, leading to rescue operations being suspended in Nepal for about three hours.

The risk of the lake bursting also prompted rescue personnel and vehicles on the Chinese side to be on standby in a safe area, China Central Television reported. Both sides resumed rescue operations after the threat eased.

"By noon, as the risk posed by the upstream barrier lake was deemed manageable, rescue operations for ‌the Gyirong mudslide disaster quickly resumed and were stepped up," CCTV said.

According to a news release by Chinese authorities, a total of 2,096 rescuers, including firefighters, police personnel and medical workers, have been deployed in the county. More than 300 vehicles, drones and two satellite communications vehicles are being used for rescue, evacuation guidance, reconnaissance and frontline communications. Furthermore, 32 experts are conducting on-site surveys of barrier lakes to support decision-making, while a five-member observation post has been set up to monitor the two lakes in real time and prevent secondary disasters.

Fire and rescue teams have set up three task groups to reach the hardest-hit area by rubber boats and by scaling mountains on foot, and for using drones for reconnaissance and supply deliveries. Small teams mobilized in advance are also monitoring the core disaster area and the barrier lake with drones and binoculars.

Local authorities said 499 affected residents have already been resettled and 555 stranded tourists evacuated. Shigatse has allocated more than 15,000 relief items, with additional rescue supplies to be allocated based on actual need.

Wednesday's disaster was triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal. The ice-and-rock collapse evolved into a massive debris flow and then into a forceful mudslide, destroying everything in its path, including the border port.

Meteorological authorities have forecast frequent rainfall through Sunday and warned of possible secondary disasters.

Contact the writers at yangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn