Heroic police officer determined to find missing workmates

After days of relentless search and rescue efforts, Xiao Fugui, a police officer at the entry-exit border inspection station in Gyirong county, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, looked gaunt and exhausted.

Despite his weary appearance, he insisted repeatedly that he was not tired at all. "All I want is to find my workmates," he said on Thursday, gripping an iron shovel with determination, his brow furrowed.

On Aug 26, a massive mudslide devastated Gyirong Port, a vital land link between China and Nepal. By Wednesday noon, 21 victims had been found, 847 personal belongings recovered, and 541 people remained missing.

Xiao was driving toward the port when the disaster struck. "I was just four or five kilometers away when I saw several cars pulled over," he said. "I got out and asked other drivers what was happening — everyone was panicked, saying the water level had risen sharply near the port."

Concerned for their safety, he instructed the two female colleagues in his car to get out and find a safe place, then continued driving alone to assess the situation. Upon realizing it was a landslide, Xiao immediately alerted the authorities.

"The muddy water was rushing toward me, so I threw the car into reverse and backed up about 500 meters before stopping," he recounted, his voice tense. "I was terrified the car would be swept away. What really scared me was not knowing what had happened to my workmates at the port."

As visibility dropped sharply and the road ahead was blocked, Xiao found himself trapped. Reflecting on that moment, he said, "I really walked through the gates of hell that day."

Driven by worry and a deep sense of duty, Xiao joined the rescue teams. By Sunday, he had reached the vicinity of the port and immediately immersed himself in the relief efforts. "As soon as I arrived, I started moving supplies, then began searching. I found clothing, shoes and crushed vehicles belonging to the missing. Every single item I saw pierced my heart like a needle."

Originally from Qinghai province, the 39-year-old Xiao has worked in Xizang for 17 years, with 11 of those years at the Gyirong entry-exit border inspection station, primarily handling publicity affairs. "For many years, I've spent almost every day with my workmates — filming their patrols, writing about their lives guarding this border," he said. "This port, these people — they've become part of me."

On the first day of the rescue, Xiao and other workers camped in a tent by a reservoir halfway up the mountain near the border port. He did not sleep at all. "The rain was so heavy that night — water poured down the slopes and merged into the river. The sound of rain, rushing water, and collapsing hillsides all mixed together. It made my heart sink. I didn't dare to sleep, and I couldn't sleep anyway," he said.

As he spoke, he picked up the shovel and resumed digging. "I have only one thought: no matter what, I want to find my workmates. I want to bring them home," he added.