China establishes communication channels as 261 foreign nationals remain missing

China has established communication and information-sharing mechanisms with the affected countries as 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries remain missing following a recent mudslide at Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border.

Through the China-Nepal disaster information exchange mechanism, meteorological, hydrological, glacial lake, and glacier data are transmitted daily to Nepal, a senior official stated on Sunday.

Ren Wei, the executive deputy commander of the emergency rescue headquarters and executive vice-chairman of the Xizang autonomous region, mentioned that all relevant information has been promptly communicated to the respective embassies in China through diplomatic channels.

A 24-hour dedicated hotline for families of the missing foreign nationals has been established, receiving 509 calls to date, with each inquiry followed up and responses relayed to the next of kin, Ren added.

At Nepal's request, the Chinese government has sent experts in tunnel rescue and DNA identification to Nepal, along with emergency material aid. Additionally, the local government of the Xizang autonomous region has provided 320 metric tons of Bailey bridge components and other relief supplies to Nepal.

Yang Lahong, deputy director of the foreign affairs office of the Xizang autonomous region, noted that the region has rigorously and prudently verified the personnel information of the missing individuals. The basic information of the missing persons was initially released the day after the disaster, and further details were published on Aug 30, verified through joint investigations and rapid cross-checking by multiple departments.

While the breakdown by country and number has been made public, specific lists and personal details have not been released due to privacy concerns; instead, this information has been communicated to the relevant embassies through diplomatic channels, with a collective briefing held on Sept 1, she said.

For safety reasons and to ensure efficient and orderly rescue work, non-professionals were not allowed into the affected core areas until conditions were fully prepared. To keep the public informed while ensuring safety, a small number of Chinese journalists accompanied rescue teams into the core areas, overcoming difficult terrain. Their reports and footage were subsequently released and widely used by domestic and international media, Yang said.

Regarding the families of the missing foreign nationals, the region expressed empathy, offering full understanding and care. In addition to regular authoritative updates and diplomatic notifications, a 24-hour hotline was set up and has received hundreds of calls, with staff diligently verifying and feeding back information.

Currently, efforts are focused on rescue and recovery. After the search operation concludes, authorities will confirm and notify the status of deceased foreign nationals and assist families with follow-up procedures. For those still missing, assistance will be provided within China's legal framework, including arrangements for families visiting Xizang, in coordination with relevant foreign diplomatic missions, she added.