Soldiers operate heavy machinery to clear debris

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

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

The 32-year-old soldier from a unit of the second mobile corps of the People's Armed Police Force has seven years of experience operating excavators, wheel loaders and other heavy machinery, although much of his work has involved clearing ice and snow that blocked transportation during harsh winters.

This is Li's first deployment to a natural disaster of such scale. Sent to assist rescue operations for hundreds of people missing after the mudslide hit Gyirong Port in Gyirong county, Shigatse city, on Wednesday morning, he and his fellow soldiers are tasked primarily with clearing debris and restoring transportation along a stretch of highway leading to the hard-hit border crossing.

"I am used to the barren high plateaus, with gentle, rolling mountains stretching out before me," 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 narrow and treacherous terrain is where Li now operates heavy machinery.

Despite the unfamiliar surroundings, Li said he is confident he can operate the machines safely and efficiently, drawing on his extensive experience in excavation and his determination to get the job done under harsh conditions.

Before joining the armed forces in 2018, Li was an undergraduate student majoring in visual communication design in Yunnan province in Southwest China.

When he first made the transition from drawing to operating heavy machinery, he resolved to excel in the field. He spent days and nights learning the intricacies of every machine he operated and honing his skills under challenging conditions, often amid gusting winds and bone-chilling snow.

Now, that hard-won expertise is being put to use once again.

At the site near Gyirong Port, Li cleared tall piles of debris from the top down, working in layers to gradually reduce their height.

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

Safety is a crucial part of becoming a proficient heavy machinery operator.

Operating an excavator involves numerous risks. For instance, if the bucket accidentally strikes steel or hard rock buried in the mud, fragments can go flying as high as three meters, potentially shattering the operator's windshield and endangering people nearby.

When operating wheel loaders, hitting rebar or fencing buried underneath the debris can puncture the tires. Blind spots around such large machines are another constant concern.

Years of hands-on practice have enabled Li to memorize 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 said.

Safety is also central to the approach of Zhang Jian, a 38-year-old soldier who has joined the rescue mission in Gyirong county.

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

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

Compared with his level of expertise more than a decade ago, Zhang said he has become more mature and patient, particularly when responding to emergencies.

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

Contact the writers at wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn