Armed forces' heavy machinery operator tackles mudslide disaster in Xizang

The first thing that struck Li Jinchong, a heavy machinery operator from the Chinese military, when arriving near the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in the Xizang autonomous region was the scale of the disaster.

"The roads were damaged and the mountain slopes bore scars of torrents of mud and ice sweeping through," he said. "It was different from seeing the catastrophe on the news. I felt shock and pain."

This is Li's first deployment to a natural disaster of this scale. The 32-year-old soldier from the second mobile corps of the People's Armed Police Force has had seven years of experience operating excavators, wheel loaders and other heavy machines, though mostly for clearing ice and snow blocking transportation during freezing winters.

"I am used to the barren high plateaus, with gentle rolling mountains that stretch out," he said. "Here, it's different. The mountains are forested, steep and more imposing. Stepping in here, I can feel the tightness of the slopes as if they are closing in on us."

This is the narrow, treacherous space where Li and his fellow soldiers now operate. Sent to assist rescue operations for hundreds of people missing after the mudslide that hit Gyirong Port in Shigatse city's Gyirong county on Wednesday morning, their key mission is clearing debris and restoring transport on a stretch of highway leading to the hard-hit border crossing.

Despite the unfamiliar terrain, Li said he is confident operating the machine safely and efficiently, drawing on his rich experience with excavation and a determination to get the job done in harsh conditions.

Li was an undergraduate student in visual communication design from Yunnan province in Southwest China before joining the armed forces in 2018.

He said before moving from drawing to operating heavy machinery, he had resolved to excel in the discipline, spending day and night learning the intricacies of every machine he touched and honing his skills in complicated conditions, often marked by gusting winds and bone-chilling snow.

Now, that hard-won knowledge is being put to use again. At the site near Gyirong Port, he works by shaving tall piles of debris from the top down in layers, lowering the height gradually.

"The soil is loose here, so it is important to maintain a safe distance from the edge at all times to prevent tipping the machine or triggering a collapse," he said.

A key facet of becoming a proficient machine operator is guaranteeing safety.

Operating an excavator carries many risks. For instance, accidentally striking the excavator bucket on steel or hard rock buried in the mud could cause fragments to bounce as high as three meters, shattering the operator's windshield and endangering people nearby.

When operating wheel loaders, hitting pieces of rebar or fencing underneath can puncture tires. Blind spots around such large machines are also a constant concern.

Years of hands-on practice have enabled Li to internalize safety protocols.

"It is like we have developed muscle memory and are wired to stay on high alert when working to ensure absolute safety," he added.

Ensuring safety is also part of the motto that guides the work of Zhang Jian, a 38-year-old armed forces soldier who has also joined the mission in Gyirong county.

"Carefully selecting the machine's operating position and constantly making adjustments to prevent mud churning, and being aware of the risk of falling rocks from prolonged rainfall are among the hazards we should watch out for here," he said.

Zhang participated in rescue operations after the 8.1-magnitude earthquake in Nepal in 2015, as well as a number of domestic emergency road repair missions.

Compared to his level of expertise more than a decade ago, Zhang said he has found himself to have become more mature and patient, especially in acute circumstances.

"This is also a team effort. With everyone pulling together and cooperation between units getting smoother, we are making progress day by day," he said.