Emergency road reinforcement equipment has been dispatched to Gyirong county in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, to support road access and enhance search operations following last week's devastating mudslide, the Ministry of Emergency Management announced on Thursday.

Through an emergency coordination mechanism between the Ministry of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Transport, 40 sets of temporary roadbed panels, cranes, and other essential equipment were urgently allocated from a national regional highway emergency equipment reserve center in Changji Hui autonomous prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Escorted by Xinjiang regional transport authorities, the equipment has now arrived at the rescue site. The temporary roadbed panels are specifically designed for use on mud, soft soil, and other unstable ground, helping to prevent heavy machinery like excavators, cranes, and dump trucks from sinking by distributing their weight.

This equipment is urgently required to reinforce damaged roads and support deeper excavation and search operations in the mudslide-affected area, according to the ministry.

The massive mudslide, originating on the Nepalese side of the China-Nepal border, struck Gyirong Port on Aug 26, resulting in significant casualties and leaving many people missing. The disaster severely damaged National Highway G216, the main road to the port, complicating access to the core disaster area.

Rescue teams have been working to restore and reinforce the land route while expanding search efforts in areas covered by deep mud and debris.

A mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Shigatse on Aug 26 after originating on the Nepalese side of China-Nepal border. It caused major casualties and damaged roads, electricity and communications, cutting off access to the core disaster area. After days of continuous efforts, National Highway G216, the main route to the port, reopened on Wednesday. China Daily reporter Palden Nyima is on-site at G216, providing live updates on the latest developments. Tune in to watch the efforts LIVE.

A food truck has been deployed in mudslide-affected Gyirong town of Gyirong county recently, providing hot meals to disaster relief volunteers. The truck came from the neighboring Dingri county. After being hit by an earthquake in 2025, Dingri county purchased the truck with funds from East China's Shanghai under an assistance program for Xizang. After Gyirong town was hit by the mudslide, Dingri county soon dispatched the truck to share mobile food services for disaster relief.

The death toll from the mudslide at a China-Nepal border port rose to 21 on Wednesday, authorities said, while 541 people remained missing as rescuers expanded deep searches in the disaster's core area after restoring a key land route.

Karma Tsetan, chairman of the government of the Xizang autonomous region, gave the figures at a news conference in Gyirong on Wednesday, saying more than 2,300 rescuers had been mobilized for the operation.

The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Shigatse on Aug 26 after originating on the Nepalese side of the border. It caused major casualties and damaged roads, electricity and communications, cutting off access to the core disaster area.

The reopening of a section of National Highway G216, the main road leading to the port, has allowed rescuers to move heavy machinery into the hardest-hit areas and intensify searches for people buried beneath thick layers of mud and debris.

Karma Tsetan said more than 400 vehicle deployments and more than 8,000 sets of rescue equipment had been mobilized. Drones had made about 800 flights, while 5.43 metric tons of personnel supplies and equipment had been air-dropped into the core area.

Before the road was restored, rescuers relied on a combination of land, water and air operations to reach the disaster zone. Some teams approached by boat along waterways, while others trekked for about 12 hours through mountainous terrain. Helicopters made 24 flights to transport rescuers and supplies.

Communications have also improved, with 12 base stations restored and lighting and power equipment deployed in the core area, Karma Tsetan said.

Rescuers have carried out repeated grid searches covering about 1.59 million square meters since the disaster. More than 10 pieces of heavy machinery have now entered the core area, enabling teams to move from surface searches to more extensive excavation.

Ren Wei, executive vice-chairman of the Xizang regional government, said the latest searches are focusing on deeper layers of debris, with mud deposits averaging about 4 meters and reaching as deep as 16 meters in some locations.

Large rocks and thick mud have covered the surface, making it difficult to determine what lies underneath, Ren said. Rescue teams have divided the affected area into sections and are using professional detection equipment to search beneath the debris.

Priority is being given to locations where people may have been trapped, including a parking lot, a joint inspection building and accommodation buildings.

The Ministry of Emergency Management said firefighters have adjusted their strategy as heavy equipment becomes available. Excavators are being used to clear large quantities of debris, while specialized teams conduct detailed searches and use life-detection equipment at targeted locations.

Searches are also focusing on buried buildings, riverbanks, gullies and damaged sections of road. Search dogs and life detectors are being used where conditions permit.

A forward command post has been established about 1.5 kilometers from Gyirong Port to improve coordination among teams operating close to the disaster area.

Yao Xueqin, a member of a Lhasa fire and rescue mobile detachment, said the high-altitude location and extensive damage to roads and communications had made the operation particularly difficult.

Thin air, steep slopes and deep mud quickly exhaust rescuers, while damaged roads initially forced teams to rely heavily on walking and drones to move personnel and supplies, Yao said. Disrupted communications also made it difficult for commanders to track teams and issue warnings in real time.

Fog, rain and turbulent air currents in the valleys have periodically restricted drone flights and aerial supply operations. The mudslide also drastically changed the terrain and erased familiar landmarks, adding to the difficulties of locating missing people.

The reopening of G216 had been a major priority for rescue authorities. Karma Tsetan said crews worked around the clock despite narrow working areas, unstable slopes, rapidly rising water, deep mud and continuing rainfall.

A total of 1,333 personnel deployments and 658 equipment deployments were made during the road-reopening operation. By 10 am on Wednesday, the route into the core area had been largely restored, allowing personnel, supplies and heavy machinery to enter by land.

China Anneng Group, a national force for disaster engineering rescue and infrastructure construction, said it had deployed 158 rescuers and 33 pieces of equipment on Tuesday night to reinforce water-damaged sections of G216. Crews worked through heavy rain to strengthen temporary roadbeds while monitoring river levels and surrounding slopes.

The risk of secondary disasters remains a major concern. More rain is forecast in Gyirong over the next three days, according to the China Meteorological Administration.

Three national emergency rescue teams, comprising 39 personnel, have formed a joint monitoring group, the Ministry of Emergency Management said. The teams have accumulated 120 hours of monitoring and collected about 2,700 sets of data on barrier lakes, landslide areas and unstable slopes.

Rockfall radar, slope radar and other equipment are monitoring the surrounding mountains, gullies and debris deposits around the clock. Meteorological authorities are providing detailed forecasts every six hours.

Yao said rescuers have been instructed to prioritize safety, with teams withdrawing from low-lying valley areas at night and operating in groups with rope protection. Personnel have been told to evacuate immediately if monitoring systems detect signs of danger.

Contact the writers at yangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn

Chinese meteorological and water authorities have stepped up cooperation with Nepal following the deadly mudslide that struck the two countries' border, sharing monitoring data and providing weather and hydrological forecasts to support rescue efforts.

The Aug 26 disaster originated on the Nepalese side of the border and severely affected Gyirong Port in the Xizang autonomous region. The area's high altitude, complex terrain and rapidly changing weather conditions have made rescue operations particularly challenging.

"From late August to early September, plateau shear lines and low vortices are frequently active along the border, with frequent precipitation, posing serious challenges to rescue work," said Ma Xuekuan, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center.

Following a request from Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology around noon on Aug 26, the China Meteorological Administration organized an emergency joint consultation with its Nepalese counterpart that afternoon. A second consultation was held on Aug 31, according to Zhang Tianhang, a senior engineer at the World Meteorological Centre Beijing.

The two sides also established a WeChat working group for real-time information sharing, allowing them to respond quickly to requests during the emergency.

The consultations used MAZU, a Chinese cloud-based early warning system, to jointly assess weather conditions and forecast precipitation in the affected area.

China subsequently established a dedicated meteorological support team for Nepal and began providing daily monitoring and forecasting reports in English.

"Overall, we have provided seamless forecasting services covering the next 30 days, offering strong support for Nepal's rescue operations," Zhang said.

China has also provided Nepal with a customized version of MAZU. Nepal has since requested additional functions, including lightning monitoring, subseasonal to seasonal forecasts and more detailed monitoring and forecasting products.

Chinese authorities have shared a range of meteorological products and observational data through the customized version of MAZU, Zhang said.

Water authorities have also joined the effort.

A barrier lake formed near the confluence of Nepal's Cuojian River and China's Purepu Tsangpo River following the disaster. The Ministry of Water Resources immediately sent a hydrological emergency monitoring team to the area, working with Xizang's regional hydrological and water resources survey authorities.

Chinese authorities are providing Nepal with daily updates in five areas, including the development of the barrier lake; potential chain risks from impact pits along the Cuojian River; risks from glacial lakes in the Gyirong Zangbo basin; the development and risk forecasts of newly formed barrier lakes; and emergency hydrological monitoring information.

The information is intended to help Nepal assess risks and organize rescue efforts downstream, according to the ministry.

Following the disaster, the CMA mobilized resources from the national to local levels. A small ground weather station was installed near the disaster area on the night of Aug 26 and a mobile weather radar was deployed nearby on Sept 1.

"These facilities have supplemented our understanding of local weather conditions and improved the precision and accuracy of local forecasts," Ma said.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn

Ma Hua, an emergency responder from Lhasa, Xizang autonomous region, typically handles air transfers of critically ill patients and provides basic medical care. But in mudslide-stricken Gyirong county, he took on a very different role: cooking three meals a day for medical staff, truck drivers and other rescue workers.

After arriving in Gyirong, Shigatse city, following the Aug 26 mudslide, Ma and his team found that there was limited demand for air ambulance services. Instead, they learned that a catering vehicle deployed by the Red Cross Society of Xizang Autonomous Region needed extra hands in the kitchen.

"I used to work as a cook and have supported disaster relief in that role before," Ma said from the Xizang 999 Emergency Rescue Center. "So our team quickly got in touch with the Red Cross and shifted roles."

The catering vehicle, parked at a hospital where local medical staff and doctors dispatched from other regions are working, began providing three free meals a day on Sunday and has so far served more than 1,500 portions.

Tseyang, deputy director of the Xizang Red Cross Society's relief and rescue department, said the hospital's kitchen was relatively small and had only one cook. Following the devastating mudslide, regional and national authorities dispatched medical aid teams, including emergency care specialists, orthopedists and psychologists, to help provide medical treatment and mental health support.

"We Red Cross workers, along with seven emergency responders like Ma, have worked together to ensure adequate meal supplies for them and ease the burden on the hospital," she said.

Demand varies from day to day, Tseyang said. The kitchen has been operating at full capacity, with extra portions packed into food containers for distribution to those in need.

At around 1:30 pm on Wednesday, Tseyang and two coworkers loaded dozens of servings of freshly cooked dishes onto a vehicle and set out to find truck drivers, loaders and sanitation workers resting on the streets.

One driver, who had transported rocks and gabions to the hardest-hit Gyirong Port, said that although he had already eaten lunch, the meals offered by the Red Cross looked so appealing that he gladly shared them with other drivers taking a break at the curbside.

"They do manual labor and burn a lot of energy, so they really need the extra food," Tseyang said.

For Qi Youpeng, another medical worker from the Xizang 999 Emergency Rescue Center, helping in the kitchen was also a departure from his usual role. He typically provides first aid during rescue missions, including after the magnitude-6.2 earthquake that struck Jishishan county in Gansu province in December 2023.

Now, he washes and chops vegetables and helps prepare meals aboard the catering vehicle.

"I'll go wherever I'm needed and I am willing to help in any way," he said.

Contact the writers at wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn

In the aftermath of the mudslide that struck Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, psychological support for the families of the deceased and missing, as well as local residents and rescue workers, has been prioritized, officials announced on Wednesday.

Following the landslide on Aug 26, Shigatse authorities swiftly formed a response team and developed a comprehensive plan to manage the aftermath, proactively reaching out to the families of the missing, said Wang Fanghong, deputy head of the disaster emergency and rescue command headquarters and Communist Party of China chief of Shigatse.

So far, 587 family members have received accommodation and assistance, including 253 cases related to domestic individuals reported as missing or deceased, Wang revealed.

A team of 70 professionals has been assigned to provide psychological counseling to these families, offering care and assistance 1,107 times. Additionally, 1,220 personnel have been organized to support these services, he added.

Four dedicated phone lines have also been established to offer consultation services to families of missing and deceased individuals both domestically and internationally. These lines have received 876 calls — 448 from China and 428 from abroad — with all inquiries documented for follow-up responses, Wang said.

"Ongoing care and support will be provided to the families of the deceased and missing," he added.

Tan Xiangdong, Party chief of the Xizang autonomous regional health commission, emphasized the importance of psychological support, acknowledging the deep trauma caused by the mudslide. "We have prioritized psychological support by developing plans for counseling and crisis intervention," he said, noting tailored mental health services are being provided to address the specific needs of different affected groups.

In collaboration with the National Health Commission and other provinces and cities, over 210 psychological assistance experts have been selected and are on standby to respond to the needs of the disaster-stricken areas, ensuring the sustainability of psychological aid, he said.

Local medical professionals, particularly Tibetan doctors, have been leveraged, and specialists with strong foreign language skills have been appointed to communicate with the families of missing foreign nationals, he added.

Psychological support is also being provided to local residents and rescue workers. At each disaster relocation site, Tan said, at least four medical staff have been assigned to ensure the presence of healthcare professionals, disease control personnel, mobile medical services, medication availability, and psychological care.

"A bilingual Chinese-Tibetan pocket guide for psychological self-help has been developed to address various post-disaster stress reactions," he specified. "Interventions are conducted through listening, companionship, guidance and comfort, with one-on-one interventions and continuous follow-ups provided for specific families."

As of noon Wednesday, a total of 966 psychological comfort and emotional support sessions had been conducted for the residents at the relocation sites, he revealed.

For rescue workers, psychological risk assessments are conducted promptly, providing necessary group and individual counseling. A pocket guide for psychological self-help specifically for front-line rescue workers has been developed to help them understand emergency responses and how to manage them, he said, adding that a hotline — 12356 — has also been established for psychological services.

Contact the writers at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn

Rescue teams are intensifying deep searches in the core disaster area around Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, where mudslide deposits reach up to 16 meters in some places. The main land route into the area was largely restored on Wednesday morning. Follow live updates from China Daily's on-site reports.

Chinese meteorological and water authorities have stepped up cooperation with Nepal following the deadly mudslide that struck the China-Nepal border, sharing monitoring data and providing weather and hydrological forecasts to support rescue efforts.

The Aug 26 disaster originated on the Nepalese side of the border and severely affected Gyirong Port in the Xizang autonomous region. The area's high altitude, complex terrain and rapidly changing weather conditions have made rescue operations particularly challenging.

"From late August to early September, plateau shear lines and low vortices are frequently active along the border, with frequent precipitation, posing serious challenges to rescue work," said Ma Xuekuan, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center.

Following a request from Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology around noon on Aug 26, the China Meteorological Administration organized an emergency joint consultation with its Nepalese counterpart that afternoon. A second consultation was held on Aug 31, according to Zhang Tianhang, a senior engineer at the World Meteorological Center, Beijing.

The two sides also established a WeChat working group for real-time information sharing, allowing them to respond quickly to requests during the emergency.

The consultations used MAZU, a cloud-based early warning system, to jointly assess weather conditions and forecast precipitation in the affected area.

China subsequently established a dedicated meteorological support team for Nepal and began providing daily monitoring and forecasting reports in English.

"Overall, we have provided seamless forecasting services covering the next 30 days, offering strong support for Nepal's rescue operations," Zhang said.

China has also provided Nepal with a customized version of MAZU. Nepal has since requested additional functions, including lightning monitoring, subseasonal-to-seasonal forecasts and more detailed monitoring and forecasting products.

Chinese authorities have shared a range of meteorological products and observation data through the customized version of MAZU, Zhang said.

Water authorities have also joined the effort.

A barrier lake formed near the confluence of Nepal's Cuojian River and China's Purepu Tsangpo River following the disaster. The Ministry of Water Resources immediately sent a hydrological emergency monitoring team to the area, working with Xizang's regional hydrological and water resources survey authorities.

Chinese authorities are providing Nepal with daily updates in five areas, including the development of the barrier lake; potential chain risks from impact pits along the Cuojian River; risks from glacial lakes in the Gyirong Zangbo basin; the development and risk forecasts of newly formed barrier lakes; and emergency hydrological monitoring information.

The information is intended to help Nepal assess risks and organize rescue efforts downstream, according to the ministry.

Following the disaster, the CMA mobilized resources from the national to local levels. A small ground weather station was installed near the disaster area on the night of Aug 26, and a mobile weather radar was deployed nearby on Sept 1.

"These facilities have supplemented our understanding of local weather conditions and improved the precision and accuracy of local forecasts," Ma said.

Rescue teams at Gyirong Port in the Xizang autonomous region will maintain round-the-clock searches in the core disaster area while adjusting deployments as risks evolve and strengthening monitoring of secondary disasters, evacuation planning and logistical support, regional authorities said on Wednesday.

Wang Haitao, head of the Xizang Fire and Rescue Corps, said at a news conference that high-altitude protection and psychological support for rescuers would also be strengthened.

As of noon on Wednesday, 21 victims had been found, 847 personal belongings had been recovered and 541 people remained missing.

The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, on Aug 26 after originating on the Nepalese side of the China-Nepal border. It cut off roads to the hardest-hit area and exposed rescuers to steep terrain, deep mud and the risks of rockfalls, landslides and barrier lakes.

Before the main land route was restored, fire and rescue teams used coordinated land, water and air operations to reach the disaster zone, Wang said.

An advance team descended more than 500 meters by rope and reached the core area at 4:30 pm on Aug 28, where it established a forward command post.

Rescuers then divided the area into grids and conducted repeated searches using manual excavation, search dogs, detection equipment and machinery. Waterborne teams searched riverbanks and sediment-filled sections, while drones conducted reconnaissance and helicopters supported personnel rotation and supply deliveries.

With road access restored, operations have shifted from reaching the core area to conducting deeper searches.

An additional 65 firefighters and more than 200 pieces of equipment have joined an initial force of 24 rescuers and two search dogs. Teams are now searching from the surface into deeper debris, focusing on areas around the border gate, collapsed structures, thick mud deposits, river valleys and other hard-to-reach locations.

Fire and rescue teams are mainly responsible for two key areas — the customs accommodation building and a parking lot. A 195-member task force has been divided into three rotating groups to conduct layer-by-layer searches, clearing debris and checking each newly exposed section before moving deeper.

Large machinery is being used to open up working areas, while firefighters, search dogs and detection equipment conduct more precise searches.

Geological and water resources experts are continuing real-time risk assessments, while teams monitor landslides, barrier lakes and other potential secondary hazards.

Wang said rescue forces would continue adjusting deployments, maintaining day-and-night shifts, refining evacuation plans and coordinating heavy machinery and helicopter support. They will also strengthen logistical support, personal protection and psychological services for rescuers engaged in prolonged operations.

Rescue teams are intensifying deep searches in the core disaster area around Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, where mudslide deposits reach up to 16 meters in some places. The main land route into the area was largely restored on Wednesday morning, regional authorities reported.

As of noon Wednesday, 21 people had been found dead and 541 remained missing, according to Karma Tsetan, chairman of the Xizang regional government. Additionally, 847 personal belongings have been recovered.

Originating on the Nepalese side of the China-Nepal border, the mudslide struck Gyirong Port on Aug 26, severing roads, electricity, and communications.

Karma Tsetan stated that over 2,300 rescuers had been mobilized, supported by more than 400 vehicle deployments and over 8,000 sets of rescue equipment. Drones have conducted 804 flights, while 5.43 metric tons of supplies and equipment have been air-dropped into the core area.

Prior to the restoration of the land route, rescuers advanced by water, land, and air. Boats approached the core zone via waterways, land teams trekked for about 12 hours along mountain routes, and helicopters made 24 flights to transport rescuers and supplies.

Communications have improved with 12 base stations restored, and lighting and power equipment deployed in the core area, Karma Tsetan said.

Rescuers have conducted repeated grid searches covering about 1.59 million square meters since the disaster. More than 10 pieces of heavy machinery have now entered the core area to support deeper searches.

Reopening National Highway G216 was a major priority. Karma Tsetan noted that rescue teams worked tirelessly despite narrow working areas, unstable slopes, fast-rising water, deep mud, and continued rainfall.

Rescue forces will continue coordinating searches, road restoration, recovery work, and risk prevention as operations progress deeper into the disaster zone, he said.

Ren Wei, executive vice-chairman of the Xizang regional government, said search operations are now focusing on deeper layers of debris. Mudslide deposits in the core area average about 4 meters in depth, reaching up to 16 meters in some places, with large rocks and thick mud covering the surface.

Rescuers have divided the area into sections and are using professional detection equipment to search beneath the debris. Priority is given to key locations, including a parking lot, the joint inspection building, and accommodation buildings.

As searches move deeper, authorities are enhancing precautions against secondary disasters. Rockfall radar, slope radar, and other equipment are monitoring surrounding mountains, gullies, and debris deposits around the clock, while meteorological authorities provide detailed forecasts every six hours.

Each search site has a dedicated safety officer, with evacuation signals, escape routes, and safe assembly areas prepared in advance.

Ren said remains found during searches are being transferred and identified, while recovered personal belongings are catalogued, preserved, and handed over according to established procedures. Health and sanitation measures are also ongoing in the affected area.

Moderate rainfall was forecast for the mudslide-devastated Gyirong Port area in China's Xizang autonomous region on Wednesday as rescue efforts proceed in the wake of the deadly natural disaster along the China-Nepal border, with major hidden risks still present in nearby watercourses.

The total accumulated precipitation is expected to reach 30 to 50 millimeters, with rainfall expected to last until Friday, the ministry said in a media release on Wednesday.

It said the rainfall is likely to push up water levels along the Gyirong Tsangpo River, raising the flow rate in the Gyirong Port section of the watercourse to about 150 to 300 cubic meters per second.

The ministry didn't disclose the current flow rate in the section, but said a monitoring station 7 kilometers upstream of the port stood at 91.7 cubic meters per second at 1 pm on Wednesday.

The ministry urged frontline rescue personnel in the area to closely monitor real-time rainfall and changes in river conditions.

Workers were advised to prepare in advance for evacuation and flood-risk mitigation.

The ministry warned that, based on consistent drone monitoring and satellite imagery analysis, there remain major hidden risks around the mudslide-stricken area.

It said glaciers around a nearby scour pit in Nepal's Chhochen Khola River, which converges with the Purepu Tsangpo River in China, face potential collapse.

It said small-scale landslides have been detected along the downstream reach of a barrier lake on the Purepu Tsangpo, heightening the risk of slope collapse that may form new barrier lakes.

According to authorities, the mudslide originating in Nepal has left 21 dead and 541 missing in the port.

In the aftermath of the mudslide that struck Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, psychological support for the families of the deceased and missing, as well as local residents and rescue workers, has been prioritized, officials announced on Wednesday.

Following the landslide on Aug 26, Shigatse authorities swiftly formed a response team and developed a comprehensive plan to manage the aftermath, proactively reaching out to the families of the missing, according to Wang Fanghong, deputy head of the disaster emergency and rescue command headquarters and Party secretary of Shigatse.

So far, 587 family members of missing or deceased individuals have been accommodated and assisted, Wang revealed. A team of 70 professionals has been assigned to provide psychological counseling to these families, offering care and assistance 1,107 times. Additionally, 1,220 personnel have been organized to support these services, according to him.

Four dedicated phone lines have also been established to offer consultation services to families of missing and deceased individuals both domestically and internationally. These lines have received 876 calls — 448 from China and 428 from abroad — with all inquiries documented for follow-up responses, Wang said.

"Ongoing care and support will be provided to the families of the deceased and missing," he added.

Tan Xiangdong, Party chief of the Xizang autonomous regional health commission, emphasized the importance of psychological support, acknowledging the deep trauma caused by the mudslide. "We have prioritized psychological support by developing plans for counseling and crisis intervention," he said, noting tailored mental health services are being provided to address the specific needs of different affected groups.

In collaboration with the National Health Commission and other provinces and cities, over 210 psychological assistance experts have been selected and are on standby to respond to the needs of the disaster-stricken areas, ensuring the sustainability of psychological aid, he said.

Local medical professionals, particularly Tibetan doctors, have been leveraged, and specialists with strong foreign language skills have been appointed to communicate with the families of missing foreign nationals, he added.

Psychological support is also being provided to local residents and rescue workers. At each disaster relocation site, Tan said, at least four medical staff have been assigned to ensure the presence of healthcare professionals, disease control personnel, mobile medical services, medication availability, and psychological care.

"A bilingual Chinese-Tibetan pocket guide for psychological self-help has been developed to address various post-disaster stress reactions," he specified. "Interventions are conducted through listening, companionship, guidance, and comfort, with one-on-one interventions and continuous follow-ups provided for specific families."

As of Wednesday noon, a total of 966 psychological comfort and emotional support sessions have been conducted for the residents at the relocation sites, he revealed.

For rescue workers, psychological risk assessments are conducted promptly, providing necessary group and individual counseling. A pocket guide for psychological self-help specifically for frontline rescue workers has been developed to help them understand emergency responses and how to manage them, he said, adding that a hotline — 12356 — has also been established for psychological services.

Authorities in the Xizang autonomous region have intensified monitoring and early warning efforts against secondary disasters following the recent mudslide at Gyirong Port, deploying experts and specialized equipment to guard against further collapses, landslides and debris flows.

Karma Tsetan, chairman of the regional government and head of the emergency rescue headquarters, said 93 experts and technical personnel are monitoring the barrier lake and the source area of the ice-rock avalanche. Geological hazards along roads leading to the border port are also being investigated, while rainfall, temperature and water-level changes in key river basins are being closely monitored to protect rescue personnel downstream.

The barrier lake had discharged naturally by Aug 30, removing the immediate threat, while a small body of water formed by the ice-rock avalanche had also drained, Karma Tsetan said.

About 150 sets of specialized equipment have been deployed, including 104 sets of radar, video surveillance, drones, and hydrological and meteorological monitoring devices.

The Aug 26 disaster had left 21 people dead and 541 missing as of Wednesday noon.

Chen Fuqi, chief engineer of the regional Department of Natural Resources, said the area's steep terrain, complex geological conditions and high-altitude hazard sources make early detection difficult.

Authorities will integrate satellite remote sensing, drone surveys and ground monitoring, while strengthening geological hazard surveys, early warning, emergency coordination and cross-border information sharing, Chen said.

Twenty-one people have been confirmed dead and 541 others remain missing as of 12 pm Wednesday after a mudslide struck Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border in China's Xizang autonomous region on Aug 26. Additionally, 847 personal belongings have been found.

Road access to the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region was nearly restored at 10:00 am on Wednesday after days of around-the-clock repair work on the damaged G216 national highway. Fire and rescue forces have optimized deployment to enhance search-and-rescue efficiency in the area.

On Aug 29, a catering support vehicle from the Red Cross Society of the Xizang Autonomous Region arrived in Gyirong town to provide meal support for frontline medical staff, cargo handlers and sanitation workers. After completing food distribution at Gyirong Port Hospital on Sept 2, teams drove to workers' rest areas to deliver hot meals. Though simple, these meals serve as solid backing for ongoing mudslide relief efforts.

More rain is forecast for Gyirong county in the Xizang autonomous region over the next three days, prompting authorities to closely monitor river levels, road conditions and the risk of secondary disasters as rescue crews continue working at the site of a deadly mudslide.

The county is typically in the latter part of its rainy season in early September, seeing frequent cloudy and rainy weather and a tendency for rainfall at night, said Huang Zhuo, deputy director of the National Meteorological Center.

"Localized precipitation could be heavier in the low-elevation river valleys in southern Gyirong," he said.

Light to moderate rain is expected on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by cloudy to overcast conditions with showers on Friday. Most of the rainfall is expected at night, Huang said.

Temperatures in Gyirong are forecast to range from highs of about 21 to 24 C to lows of 13 to 15 C.

The weather outlook has direct implications for rescue teams working around the disaster site.

Rain could leave roads slippery along the routes from Shigatse to Gyirong Port, requiring drivers and rescue crews to exercise caution.

Authorities advised rescuers to closely monitor fluctuations in water levels around the disaster area and keep personnel and heavy machinery away from low-lying areas at night.

Since the mudslide disaster occurred in Gyirong county, meteorological authorities have intensified weather observations and deployed artificial intelligence forecasting to closely track changing conditions, said Wang Yawei, spokesman for the China Meteorological Administration.

Meteorological departments at all levels have also established teams on the ground and divided responsibilities for emergency weather services, Wang said.

"We are providing real-time information on weather trends in and around the disaster area, forecasts along transportation routes, aviation weather conditions, rainfall over the barrier lake and weather-related risks from potential secondary disasters," he said.

Meteorological authorities have also begun working with their counterparts in Nepal. "We contacted Nepal's meteorological agency shortly after the disaster and began video consultations on weather conditions.

China has provided Nepal with a customized version of its MAZU intelligent early-warning platform soon after the disaster, which supplies meteorological monitoring, forecasts and early warnings.

The system integrates data from Fengyun meteorological satellites and ground-based observation networks and incorporates artificial intelligence weather forecasting models, providing meteorological support for Nepal's rescue and emergency response efforts, Wang said.

They also plan to expand scientific research on climate change and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, including changes in permafrost, snow cover and glaciers under a warming climate, in an effort to improve scientific support for future disaster prevention and response, he added.

Road access to the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in Xizang was basically restored on Wednesday after days of round-the-clock repair work on the damaged G216 national highway. Armed police officer Zhang Jian, working on the frontline of the Gyirong rescue operation, shares the challenges facing rescuers at the disaster site.

Large rescue machinery has reached the core disaster area at Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, following the completion of a temporary roadbed across the last water-damaged section of National Highway G216. This marks a significant advancement in ongoing search and rescue operations.

The highway, the main route to the port, was severed after a massive mudslide from the Nepalese side of the China-Nepal border struck the area on Aug 26, resulting in major casualties and leaving many people missing.

Rescue, relief, and recovery efforts are actively underway, with road reopening and searches for missing individuals progressing simultaneously. After overnight repairs, crews completed a temporary roadbed at the final section of G216 where the roadway had been washed out, enabling large machinery to access the disaster-hit core area.

Rescuers are working to reinforce the section so that smaller vehicles can also use the route, further enhancing access for personnel, supplies, and equipment. Rescue workers reached the core area on foot on Tuesday night, and by Wednesday morning, numerous excavators and other heavy machines had been deployed to the area.

Multiple pieces of heavy equipment are now operational around Gyirong Port, aiding in the search for missing people while also clearing and leveling damaged roads. Authorities report that various search methods are being employed in the core disaster zone as rescue teams persist in their efforts to locate the missing and restore access through the affected area.