Chinese relief supplies arrive in Nepal

KATHMANDU - Carried by two Y-20 transport planes, Chinese relief supplies and four Chinese rescue experts arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, at about 7 am local time on Sunday to assist in disaster relief efforts.

The two aircraft departed from Chengdu, China, earlier in the morning and arrived in Nepal after a flight of about three hours.

The relief supplies, including tents, blankets, sleeping bags, hardtack and emergency kits, were handed over to the Nepali side at the airport.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming and Nepal's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun attended the handover ceremony.

The mudslides, which hit Nepal on Wednesday, have caused heavy casualties and widespread damage to infrastructure.

Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said that 734 bodies had been recovered from mudslide-hit areas as of 9 am local time on Sunday, with 2,498 people still missing.