Rescue teams are continuing to push toward the core mudslide-hit area in Gyirong county in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, through forested mountains and murky waters, as damaged roads, disrupted utilities, frequent rainfall and an overflowing barrier lake continue to complicate the dogged search for missing people.

Around 4:30 pm on Friday, six members from the first response team of the Xizang fire and rescue brigade and 15 members — along with one search-and-rescue dog — from the first response team of the Sichuan fire and rescue brigade reached the Gyirong border port, which bore the maximum brunt of the deadly mudslide on the Chinese side. These were the first professional rescue teams to reach the core area, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Even as damaged roads, disabled communication systems and snapped power supplies hindered rescue and relief efforts a day after the disaster, workers remained determined to achieve results. They cleared and repaired overnight a nearly 1-kilometer stretch of a 2.8-km approach road to the border gate.

Jigme Dorje, Party chief of the Nyalam maintenance section of the Shigatse highway development center, said eight machines — including four excavators and four loaders — and more than 20 workers were clearing and repairing the road. Local volunteers and enterprises are also supporting their efforts, he added.

Xia Mingyong, from the Lhasa fire and rescue mobile detachment, said the team's rescuers were advancing by land and water. "On land, we are mainly moving toward the border port on foot. In water, we are using rubber boats to reach the severely affected port area," he said.

On Friday, a barrier lake that formed upstream of Gyirong port topped 90 ‌million cubic feet of water, up from the estimated 50-70 million cubic feet recorded on Thursday, raising the risk of secondary disasters, agencies reported. The overflow sparked panic and warnings from Nepalese authorities, leading to rescue operations being suspended in Nepal for about three hours.

The risk of the lake bursting also prompted rescue personnel and vehicles on the Chinese side to be on standby in a safe area, China Central Television reported. Both sides resumed rescue operations after the threat eased.

"By noon, as the risk posed by the upstream barrier lake was deemed manageable, rescue operations for ‌the Gyirong mudslide disaster quickly resumed and were stepped up," CCTV said.

According to a news release by Chinese authorities, a total of 2,096 rescuers, including firefighters, police personnel and medical workers, have been deployed in the county. More than 300 vehicles, drones and two satellite communications vehicles are being used for rescue, evacuation guidance, reconnaissance and frontline communications. Furthermore, 32 experts are conducting on-site surveys of barrier lakes to support decision-making, while a five-member observation post has been set up to monitor the two lakes in real time and prevent secondary disasters.

Fire and rescue teams have set up three task groups to reach the hardest-hit area by rubber boats and by scaling mountains on foot, and for using drones for reconnaissance and supply deliveries. Small teams mobilized in advance are also monitoring the core disaster area and the barrier lake with drones and binoculars.

Local authorities said 499 affected residents have already been resettled and 555 stranded tourists evacuated. Shigatse has allocated more than 15,000 relief items, with additional rescue supplies to be allocated based on actual need.

Wednesday's disaster was triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal. The ice-and-rock collapse evolved into a massive debris flow and then into a forceful mudslide, destroying everything in its path, including the border port.

Meteorological authorities have forecast frequent rainfall through Sunday and warned of possible secondary disasters.

Contact the writers at yangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chaired a Party leadership meeting on Friday to deliberate and make arrangements to strengthen rescue and relief efforts in the Xizang autonomous region, where the Gyirong land port along the China-Nepal border and its surrounding areas were hit by a catastrophic mudslide on Wednesday morning.

At the start of the meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi, who is also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other leaders observed a moment of silence to mourn the victims of the disaster.

As of press time on Friday, five people were confirmed dead and more than 500 still missing in Gyirong county in Xizang's Shigatse. Nepal has reported 579 deaths, while more than 1,900 people are missing there.

On Friday, Xi sent a message of condolence to Nepal's President Ram Chandra Poudel over the mudslide, which was triggered by a high-altitude glacial collapse. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi expressed deep condolences for the deceased and offered sincere sympathies to the bereaved families, the injured and the people in the disaster-stricken areas.

During the Political Bureau meeting, it was noted that emergency rescue operations in Gyirong county in Xizang's Shigatse have so far been carried out in a swift, orderly and well-coordinated manner under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, with comprehensive efforts underway for the resettlement of affected people and for proper handling of the aftermath.

The disaster occurred in a severely cold plateau region with steep valleys, variable weather and many surrounding glaciers and glacial lakes, and potential geological hazards are posing significant challenges to emergency rescue operations, the meeting said. It was emphasized that all relevant authorities and departments should take resolute and effective measures for rescue-related work, search and rescue plans should be formulated in a scientific manner, and every effort should be made to search for and rescue all missing Chinese and foreign nationals.

The Party leadership also underlined the need to strengthen multi-department joint consultations, enhance monitoring and early-warning systems, and closely track the stability of the barrier lake and surrounding mountains to effectively prevent secondary disasters.

It is essential to reinforce the management of on-site personnel to ensure safety throughout the rescue process, the meeting said, urging proper arrangements for the affected people and meticulous attention to post-disaster relief and support.

China will provide emergency aid to the disaster-hit areas in neighboring Nepal and carry out international rescue cooperation, the Party leadership decided.

The importance of balancing development and security, preparing for the extreme and worst-case scenarios, and bearing a strong sense of political responsibility and constant vigilance to ensure security and stability in all aspects of work was emphasized at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Xi, in his condolence message to Poudel, noted that China and Nepal are connected by mountains and rivers and share a common destiny. China is willing to actively aid Nepal in its rescue efforts and provide support and assistance to the best of its capability, he said.

Xi expressed his belief that the people of both countries will be able to work together to prevail over the disaster and rebuild their homes as soon as possible.

Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolence to Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

Entrusted by Xi, the Chinese premier traveled to Gyirong county on Thursday to guide rescue and emergency response efforts.

While assessing the ground situation and meeting with rescue teams, Li emphasized the need to put the people and their lives above all else and spare no effort in carrying out rescue operations and emergency response work.

He said that as long as there is a glimmer of hope, every effort should be made to search for and rescue still those missing.

Li later visited temporary shelters for affected residents and conveyed President Xi's concern and care to them.

The premier emphasized the need to continue dispatching and transporting disaster-relief supplies and ensure the basic living needs of evacuated and relocated residents.

Li heard reports from local authorities and relevant departments about the disaster, and discussed further efforts in rescue and emergency response measures.

He highlighted the need to coordinate the deployment of rescue forces and equipment, strengthen on-site unified command and thoroughly ascertain the status of missing persons to conduct effective rescues.

Transparency in the release of information regarding the disaster and rescue operations is crucial, he added.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn

There is something especially revealing about politicians who seek to exploit a natural disaster for political gain.

After the catastrophic landslide and flash flood that struck Nepal and China's Xizang autonomous region this week, causing heavy casualties, some secessionist-minded officials of Democratic Progressive Party authorities of China's Taiwan region, including Hsiao Bi-khim and Wu Chao-hsieh sought to capitalize on it.

In their so-called "condolences", they framed the disaster as being at the "Tibet-Nepal border", studiously avoiding any mention of the fact that Xizang is part of China. The wording may look "innocuous" to the casual reader. But it is anything but innocuous. For officials associated with a party whose political project is deeply entangled with separatist thinking, the omission is the message.

What came next was even more grotesque: A pro-DPP media outlet reportedly claimed that Nepal's disaster relief efforts were delayed because "the mainland gave no early warning".

Really?

Scientific evidence points to a cascading geophysical disaster that began on the Nepalese side. A high-altitude glacier collapse sent ice and rock down the mountain, picking up huge quantities of loose debris and eventually generating a devastating mudslide that struck Gyirong Port in Xizang.

Experts have emphasized how little reaction time was available. The flow traveled at roughly 50 meters per second, covering nearly 14 miles in just 6 minutes and 50 seconds, leaving virtually no time to react.

The United States Geological Survey later confirmed there was no earthquake involved and the event was "a glacial collapse and debris flow" that "caused subsequent catastrophic impacts downstream".

Yet somehow a natural catastrophe becomes, in the pro-DPP media outlet's telling, another indictment of Beijing.

Scientists have warned that rising temperatures are destabilizing glaciers, permafrost and high-altitude slopes, increasing the risk of cascading hazards in the Himalayas. The climate crisis is a global challenge, not a convenient accusation to be hurled across the Taiwan Strait.

This is what happens when ideology overrides compassion.

Beijing's response to the disaster was swift. Authorities activated emergency responses, mobilized the military, firefighting and specialist rescue teams, deployed helicopters, drones and heavy equipment, and coordinated with Nepal on search-and-rescue operations.

Beijing also said it was prepared to provide emergency assistance according to Kathmandu's needs.

Many foreign leaders and international organization chiefs, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have expressed grief over the loss of life in both Nepal and China, while the UN said humanitarian partners were supporting relief operations in the two countries. The Taiwan secessionists' response is to turn a landslide into a despicable political spectacle.

The UN's disaster-risk chief later described the catastrophe as a reminder of the "transboundary nature" of disaster risks and the fragility of mountain ecosystems.

Hsiao and Wu may believe that carefully deleting the word "China" makes a political point. It does. It tells grieving families that even in death, tragedy serves ideology for the secessionists of the DPP authorities.

The pro-DPP media outlet, with its ugly performance, has also exposed its true colors as a political tool of the DPP authorities. One that is always ready to stoop to new lows in spreading fake news.

The DPP authorities' brazen attempt to smuggle their separatist agenda into a disaster zone and shamelessly pretend it is compassion has been denounced by people on both sides of the Strait.

The DPP's politicization of this tragedy runs counter to the true feelings of compatriots on the island. While firmly opposing the DPP authorities' separatist opportunism, it should be acknowledged that people on both sides of the Strait have always stood together in times of disaster.

A glacier collapsed. Rivers surged. Mud buried lives. But for some Taiwan secessionists that is free publicity for their cause, not a tragedy to be lamented.

China's national comprehensive fire and rescue force carried out search and rescue operations near Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region on Friday.

The Shigatse detachment of the People's Armed Police Force Xizang Contingent was deployed to the area near Gyirong Port for search and rescue operations on Friday.

The Sichuan Fire and Rescue Brigade has deployed a forward command team to assist rescue operations in Gyirong county of Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, after a deadly mudslide on the Nepal side of the border struck the Gyirong Port area on Wednesday, causing significant casualties and leaving many missing.

Immediately after the disaster, the brigade activated an emergency response and dispatched 155 personnel to the affected area, with a second team of 450 personnel on standby for rescue operations.

At 9 am on Thursday, a 10-member forward command team sent by the brigade arrived at Heping Airport in Shigatse and drove directly to Gyirong town to join frontline rescuers, the brigade said.

A meeting held by the brigade on Thursday morning showed that the rugged terrain, unstable slopes from previous quakes, recent persistent rainfall, and a 2,000-meter elevation drop along the rescue route posed a high risk of new barrier lakes.

The meeting called for around-the-clock monitoring of rescue areas, prevention against secondary disasters to ensure the safety of rescuers, and dedicated logistics and medical support channels to support long-term rescue operations, according to the brigade.

Rescue teams are using ropes to get themselves and rubber boats across torrential rapids in the Xizang autonomous region. They plan to conduct rescue operations by kayak in the mudslide-stricken Gyirong Port in Shigatse.

More than 100 power repair personnel and dozens of emergency power units have been deployed to Gyirong county following the mudslide in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, State Grid Xizang Electric Power said on Friday.

As of 10 am, 106 repair personnel, 13 emergency power vehicles, 52 generators, and 39 lighting units had arrived in the affected areas to support power restoration.

Additional equipment has also been mobilized from other regions, including 19 lighting units, two drone-based lighting systems, and two mobile charging stations. The equipment is on standby for deployment based on conditions at the disaster sites.

The company said it would continue to reinforce emergency power support and deploy additional personnel and equipment as needed to accelerate restoration work.

A mudslide that began on the Nepalese side of the border on Wednesday morning hit the Gyirong Port area in Gyirong county, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, leaving three people dead and 558 others missing as of 8 am Thursday. Rescue work is continuing.

How have rescue operations progressed?

Gyirong township lies on the southern slope of the Himalayas, bordering Nepal. Its steep terrain and narrow valleys have made rescue operations extremely difficult.

Rescuers said mud in the core disaster area was more than 1.5 meters deep, while possible ground subsidence further slowed the movement of personnel and machinery. The mudslide also destroyed sections of the river valley. Local police warned that rising temperatures around noon could increase geological risks and urged people to leave dangerous areas quickly.

Multiple rescue forces have been sent to the front line. The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched teams to Xizang, and as of around 8 am on Thursday, the first group of 141 rescuers had arrived at Gyirong Port. A plateau-type Mi-171 helicopter had also reached the disaster area.

Forces from the Xizang Military Command, armed police, fire and rescue teams, the China Search and Rescue Team and China Anneng Group - which specializes in the engineering element of rescue operations - have joined the operation. Shigatse has activated a Level I emergency response for natural disaster relief.

Norbu Tsering, commander-in-chief of the disaster frontline command, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Shigatse Municipal Committee and acting mayor of Shigatse, said two villagers from Resuo village had been rescued as of 8 am on Thursday.

What caused the disaster?

Experts at the Ministry of Natural Resources said the disaster was triggered by the collapse of a high-altitude glacier in Nepal. The falling ice rushed downhill at high speed, sweeping up moraine deposits and turning into a debris flow. It then entered the Donglin Zangbo River, forming a mudslide that struck Gyirong Port and continued downstream through the canyon.

Guo Zhaocheng, director of the geological disaster investigation and monitoring center at the China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center for Land and Resources, described it as a chain reaction from ice collapse to debris flow and then mudslide.

The debris flow moved at an estimated speed of about 50 meters per second and affected an area more than 20 kilometers away.

Yao Tandong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said glacier-related disasters are becoming more frequent, wider in range and more destructive amid global warming. In this case, disaster energy moved down the valley and was amplified downstream, increasing both damage and secondary risks.

Rescuers said the terrain encountered by the mudslide as it rushed downstream did little to slow or absorb its force, making its impact especially destructive when it reached Gyirong Port. They said the disaster originated in a high-altitude, complex mountainous area of Nepal, where source-area inspections are difficult and early warning signs are hard to detect.

Gyirong Port is a major trade channel between China and Nepal, with concentrated personnel, buildings and business activities. Rescuers said casualty figures may be higher because the disaster occurred during daytime working hours.

What challenges do rescuers face?

Rescuers said the main challenges are unstable terrain, damaged roads, poor weather and disrupted communications.

Local authorities said a barrier lake had formed upstream after the ice collapse, posing a threat to downstream rescue work. Mudslides were still occurring near Langdang Snow Mountain, and drones were being used to monitor the lake because of fast-flowing river water and unsafe ground conditions.

Road damage has also slowed rescue access. A section about 3 kilometers from the main disaster site was damaged. On Wednesday, with roads blocked, an advance team of more than 10 police and fire rescuers used three large machines but managed to advance only about 600 meters. Rain, fading light and deep river water further complicated the operation.

By Thursday morning, several local officials and front-line rescuers said the roadbed had been severely damaged, and the river remained deep and fast-flowing, adding to the difficulty of rescue work.

Communications and power were cut off in the affected area. Five base stations along the route from Gyirong township to the border port were destroyed by floodwater. At around 4 pm on Thursday, communication signals were restored in Resuo village, about 3 kilometers from Gyirong Port.

Meteorological authorities have forecast frequent rain in Gyirong county until Sunday, with heavy rain possible in some low-altitude southern townships, along with high temperature variation between night and day. Mountain torrents, mudslide and landslide may occur in some areas.

How are affected people being aided?

After the disaster, national authorities activated a Level-II emergency response for disaster relief, the second-highest in China's four-level disaster relief emergency response system, and the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management allocated 120 million yuan ($17.85 million) in central disaster relief funds.

Local governments have organized evacuations and temporary resettlement. Police involved in rescue work have moved more than 300 Gyirong residents to safety.

Shigatse has allocated more than 15,000 relief items, including tents, blankets, cold-weather clothing, folding beds and daily necessities. Sixty-two temporary tents have been set up to meet basic living needs.

At a temporary settlement about 20 kilometers from Gyirong Port, each tent is equipped with beds, quilts and pillows. Power support equipment, emergency lighting and charging facilities are also available.

The National Health Commission is coordinating medical treatment, transfer of the injured and psychological support. Xizang has opened a 24-hour psychological assistance hotline, while hospitals, blood supply units and national emergency medical rescue teams are on standby.

Meteorological departments at four levels are increasing coordination, using satellite remote sensing and weather monitoring data to identify secondary disaster risks around the mudslide-hit area. Forecasts are being updated on a rolling basis to support rescue operations.

Experts warned that people should avoid valleys, river channels, low-lying areas and cliffside slopes during rainfall and remain alert to mudslide and landslide for 72 hours after rain ends.

GYIRONG, Xizang -- Rescue forces have been quickly deployed to a mudslide-hit port along the China-Nepal border in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, but relief operations remain severely hampered by complex and dangerous conditions on the ground.

Official figures show that a fast-moving chain mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse on the Nepalese side, swept through Gyirong Port on Wednesday morning. As of 8 am on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued.

Xinhua reporters at the scene said the mudslide had devastated the river valley below. The silt layer in the core disaster area is more than 1.5 meters deep, posing a high risk of trapping anyone caught in it.

Chinese rescue teams mobilized swiftly to the remote mountainous border region. The first contingent of 141 emergency rescuers reached Gyirong Port on Thursday morning. Another 111 members of China's national search and rescue team arrived in Gyirong county by 2:28 pm Thursday.

The People's Liberation Army Xizang Military Command has deployed two batches of military helicopters to conduct aerial assessments, map rescue flight routes and carry out intensive searches, while also ferrying medical and rescue equipment to the affected area.

Despite these efforts, rescuers on site say operations are extremely challenging due to several factors.

The first is the risk of secondary disasters. The meteorological department forecasts light to moderate rain or thunderstorms across most of Gyirong county from Wednesday night to Sunday, with heavy rain in some southern low-altitude towns. These downpours could trigger flash floods, mudslides and mudslides in vulnerable areas, potentially disrupting rescue work.

The county authorities have also warned that a barrier lake, formed upstream of the port by the glacier collapse, sits in an unstable geological setting and could breach, endangering rescue operations downstream.

The second obstacle is damaged road infrastructure. Local authorities said a road about three kilometers from the site was destroyed by the mudslide, delaying rescue access and slowing response efforts.

The third challenge is the temporary loss of contact with the disaster zone. In the immediate aftermath, communications and power supply were cut off, leaving the situation in the core area unknown for a time.

By around 4 pm Thursday, communication signals were restored in a village three kilometers from the port, marking phased progress in emergency communication support, authorities said.

The National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief, together with the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM), helped allocate 30,000 central relief supplies, including tents, stoves, clothing, quilts, folding beds and moisture-proof mats, to support evacuation, resettlement and relief work.

The Ministry of Finance and the MEM also allocated 120 million yuan (about $17.7 million) in central natural disaster relief funds to support Xizang in carrying out emergency rescue and disaster relief operations.

Governments at all levels in Xizang and relevant departments have promptly organized disaster prevention efforts and risk avoidance measures, and have properly relocated and resettled those under threat.

A total of 499 villagers and construction workers have been properly accommodated. Meanwhile, 555 affected tourists were evacuated and transferred under the coordination of cultural and tourism authorities. No tourists remain stranded.

GYIRONG, Xizang -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for all-out rescue and emergency response efforts following a mudslide that struck the Gyirong border port in Gyirong county of Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region.

Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, traveled to Gyirong county on Thursday to guide rescue and emergency response efforts after the disaster.

Five people have been confirmed dead and 558 others are missing after the mudslide hit the border port on Wednesday morning, according to regional authorities.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made instructions on disaster relief and emergency response operations after the mudslide occurred on Wednesday.

Li stressed the importance of implementing the instructions, calling for efforts to put the people and their lives above all else and to spare no effort in carrying out rescue and emergency response work.

After arriving at the Shigatse airport, Li proceeded directly to the disaster-hit area in Gyirong, where he inspected the damage and met with rescue workers.

Li said rescue plans should be formulated in a scientific manner and every possible effort be made to search for those who are still missing. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, every effort should be made, he said.

He also called for swift repairs to damaged infrastructure, including roads, communications and power facilities, to restore access for rescue operations as soon as possible.

Expressing appreciation to personnel working on the front lines of the rescue effort, Li later visited temporary shelters for affected residents and conveyed Xi's concern and care to them.

Li stressed the need to continue dispatching and transporting disaster-relief supplies and ensure the basic living needs of evacuated and relocated residents.

At the front-line command center for the Gyirong mudslide disaster response, Li called for strengthening coordination of rescue personnel and equipment, enhancing unified on-site command, and further efforts to fully ascertain the situation of those still missing.

He stressed the need to carry out rescue operations in an orderly and effective manner.

It is necessary to strengthen monitoring, forecasting and early warning of weather, hydrological and geological conditions in affected and surrounding areas, as well as take solid epidemic prevention and disinfection measures to guard against secondary disasters, he noted.

He urged authorities to release information on the disaster and rescue operations in an open and transparent manner.

Li also stressed the need to strengthen foreign-related emergency response, communication and coordination, and work with relevant foreign parties to verify the status of missing persons and well handle follow-up matters.

Noting that China is still in the midst of flood season and faces a severe and complex situation regarding flood control and typhoon prevention, Li called for maintaining preparedness for extreme and worst-case scenarios.

He urged authorities to remain highly vigilant, intensify inspections and risk-removal efforts in key areas and vulnerable locations, and take solid measures against various natural disasters to safeguard people's lives and property and maintain overall social stability.

Firefighters, road maintenance crews and other agencies were working in dangerous conditions Friday to reopen a damaged route toward Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, as rising risks from a barrier lake, rainfall and secondary geological disasters complicated the search for missing people.

On Wednesday morning, a mudslide that began on the Nepalese side of the border caused major casualties at Gyirong Port in Gyirong county. Preliminary figures showed that, as of 8 am on Thursday, three people had been killed and 558 others were missing on the Chinese side of the border. In Nepal, police say the death toll has risen to 469.

The disaster cut off roads, communications and power between Gyirong township and the port.

At a road repair site about 2.8 kilometers from the border gate, rescuers said nearly 1 kilometer of the damaged road had been reopened, while about 1.8 kilometers remained blocked. Rescue teams in the area are continuing repair work with mechanical equipment.

On Friday, it was reported that a barrier lake upstream of Gyirong Port had begun to overflow, making it extremely dangerous to approach badly hit areas due to the risk of new mountain torrents or mudslides.

However, Xia Mingyong, a member of the Lhasa fire and rescue mobile detachment, said rescuers were trying to advance by both land and water.

"On land, we mainly plan to move toward the port on foot. On water, we are preparing to use rubber boats to reach the affected area near the port for search and rescue," Xia said.

He said the team had not yet fully assessed conditions in the core disaster area and was still moving toward the port, adding that the specific rescue plan will depend on what they find after arrival.

At the scene, rescuers were seen preparing water rescue equipment. Because the road ahead had been washed away and river water had overflowed toward the mountain slope, access remained extremely difficult and slow.

Jigme Dorji, Party chief of the Nyalam maintenance section of the Shigatse highway development center, said the section was organizing emergency road clearance and repair work. More than 20 workers and eight pieces of machinery, including four excavators and four loaders, had been deployed.

People from local agencies and enterprises are also working on the operation, with personnel and machinery engaged in emergency access restoration.

A 15-member team from China Anneng, a State-owned engineering and rescue enterprise, was deployed to the barrier lake area in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region on Friday, with reconnaissance drones, portable satellite stations and fixed communication monitoring units.

The team conducted on-site surveys of the barrier dam and surrounding roads to provide precise data support for the scientific disposal of the barrier lake.

To mitigate risks, monitoring equipment was deployed on-site for around-the-clock surveillance. Reconnaissance drones patrolled overhead to map the disaster zone, assess terrain and locate trapped people. Fixed communication monitoring units stood guard at assigned points, providing 24-hour continuous monitoring of high-risk spots. Portable satellite stations restored emergency communication links, streaming live video and voice from the scene in real time to ensure efficient command and dispatch between frontline and rear headquarters.

China's national comprehensive fire and rescue force is carrying out search and rescue operations by water, land and air after a mudslide disaster left people missing at Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region.

The disaster occurred at around 10:30 am on Aug 26 after a mudslide on the Nepalese side of the border, leaving three people dead and 558 others missing as of 8 am on Thursday.

According to the National Fire and Rescue Administration, as of 10 am on Friday, 681 rescuers and 113 vehicles from the national comprehensive fire and rescue force had arrived at the site. They include 415 rescuers and 75 vehicles from the Xizang fire and rescue corps, 155 rescuers and 38 vehicles from the Sichuan mobile rescue force, and 111 members of the China Search and Rescue Team.

A total of 6,612 pieces or sets of rescue equipment and support supplies in 19 types have also been allocated and sent to Gyirong township.

Under the rescue plan of the front-line command headquarters, fire and rescue teams have set up three specialized operation groups. They are entering the disaster area by rubber boats on waterways, advancing over mountains on foot by land, and using drones for aerial reconnaissance and supply delivery.

The teams are searching for and rescuing missing people while dealing with complex terrain and disrupted access to the affected area, the administration said.

A forward team has also been sent to conduct mapping, reconnaissance and fixed-point monitoring of the core disaster zone and the barrier lake area, using drones and binoculars.

Thirteen experts from the Shanghai Fire Research Institute have arrived at the site to support the rescue operation, the administration said.

After a mudslide hit Gyirong border port in Shigatse, Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, emergency crews are conducting road clearance and repairs. Meanwhile, fire rescue teams are advancing toward the port area via both land and water to search for and rescue survivors.

To cope with the mudslide disaster that occurred on Wednesday, the Nyalam Maintenance Section of the Shigatse Highway Development Center, Xizang autonomous region, is making a concerted effort to clear and repair roads. Meanwhile, rescue forces are attempting to move forward with full-scale searches for survivors.

After the mudslide disaster, this video captures footage taken by China Daily Reporter Palden Nyima in Sichung village, Salhe township, located adjacent to the Xizang autonomous region’s mudslide stricken zone.

Xu Jiayi contributed to this story.

The Ministry of Water Resources on Thursday activated a Level IV emergency flood response — the lowest in the country's four-tier disaster-relief system, warning that a barrier lake that formed after a mudslide on the China-Nepal border faces a high risk of breaching and sending floodwaters downstream.

The barrier lake formed near the confluence where Nepal's Chhochen Khola River flows into the Purepu Tsangpo River in China after a deadly mudslide that began in Nepal on Wednesday morning and caused heavy casualties and large numbers of missing people at Gyirong Port in Gyirong county, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region.

The lake had accumulated an estimated 2 million cubic meters of water as of Thursday morning, the ministry said in a media release on Thursday.

The ministry warned of a high breach risk as forecasts show that about 3 million cubic meters will flow into the lake over the next three days. This may cause further damage in areas including Gyirong Port and elsewhere downstream, it said.

The ministry has urged the Xizang water resources authority to closely monitor the barrier lake and rainfall, strengthen forecasting and risk assessments, and pinpoint communities in the potential path of the breach, the release said. Aside from issuing timely risk warnings, they should evacuate threatened residents in advance.

A hydrological emergency monitoring team has been closely monitoring the situation at the site, according to the ministry. Meanwhile, the ministry has dispatched an expert team to Gyirong county to assist with the emergency response.

With satellite remote sensing and other monitoring tools, the ministry is further inspecting rivers near the mudslide-hit area for possible new barrier lakes and will ensure risk warnings are delivered promptly to frontline local authorities, the ministry said in another media release.

A mudslide, which occurred on the Nepalese side on Wednesday, struck a border port in Xizang and inflicted heavy casualties. As of the evening of Aug 27, a total of 499 residents — including 180 from Goba village, 40 from Sichung village, 107 from Lapher village, 55 from Lorjang village, and 88 from Trongse village — as well as 29 excavation crew members, have been safely relocated.