GYIRONG, Xizang -- Road access to the core area of the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region was basically restored at 10 am on Wednesday after days of round-the-clock repair work on the damaged G216 national highway.

Rescue teams, relief supplies and some rescue equipment have entered the core rescue area via this road, rescuers said.

A section of the G216 national highway, the only land route to Gyirong Port, was severely damaged by the mudslide carrying huge boulders, with the restoration of road access critically important in aiding large-scale search operations in the core disaster area.

The repair operation, notably, posed formidable challenges.

"Conditions vary from one section of the road to another," said Zhou Gang from China Anneng, a state-owned engineering and rescue enterprise. The original roadbed remained usable in some sections, but most of it had been severely damaged.

The work zone lay in a narrow mountain gorge, with steep mountainsides on one side and a fast-flowing river on the other. This confined space made it difficult for multiple pieces of heavy machinery to operate simultaneously, severely hampering the work, Zhou added.

An even greater challenge came from the unpredictable conditions inside the gorge, featuring fast-flowing water and lingering risks of rockfalls, landslides and other secondary hazards.

Crews responded by adapting their methods. Along narrow sections, multiple excavators worked in relay, lining up one behind another to dig and pass debris from one machine to the next.

In sections with the strongest currents, excavators pushed into the water to open the way, while crews built diversion structures and used rock-filled steel cages to stabilize the roadbed, advancing section by section.

The mudslide, caused by an ice-rock avalanche in Nepal, hit Gyirong Port on Aug 26, claiming 16 lives and leaving 546 people missing at the border port as of 6 pm on Saturday, according to the regional government's latest update.

Following the disaster, Xizang swiftly activated its highest-level emergency response for natural disasters, mobilizing rescue forces from across the region for search and rescue operations, road clearance and other relief work in Gyirong.

A deadly mudslide, caused by an ice-rock avalanche in Nepal on Aug 26 led to interruption of roads, communication and power around the Gyirong Port in Gyirong county, Xizang autonomous region. Saleb township of the county is close to the source of this mudslide disaster, and residents of three villages in the township have been quickly evacuated to safe areas after the disaster.

However, the villagers are worried about their poultry, livestock and farmland. Rescuers from the Saleb township went to the evacuated villages at regular intervals every day to help the villagers feed their poultry and livestock, patrol the villages, and safeguard their property.

By the time Phuntsok Drakpa sat down to talk about the rescue operation at Gyirong Port in the Xizang autonomous region on Tuesday, he still had not dealt with the insect that had burrowed into his skin days earlier.

He had more urgent things to do.

Phuntsok Drakpa, an officer at a community police station in Gyirong county, immediately volunteered to join the search-and-rescue effort after a deadly mudslide struck the port on Aug 26.

The journey from Lapher village, where his police station is located, to the port was not a road in the conventional sense. Much of it was a narrow trail cut into the mountainside, with a cliff on one side and a drop so deep that the bottom could not be seen, he said. In some places, there was no trail at all.

The officers had to push through dense brush, cutting branches, thorny vines and weeds to make their way forward. About 1.5 kilometers from the port, they reached the most dangerous section: a valley more than 200 meters deep, with slopes of 60 to 70 degrees.

"Some sections were bare rock. Others were wet and slippery from the rain. We had to use ropes to lower ourselves down," he said.

Phuntsok Drakpa had one thought as he moved: Get there as quickly as possible.

"If we arrived one minute earlier, there could be one more chance," he said.

The officers traveled about 7.7 km on foot. About 5.5 km could be covered at a slow jog, while the rest was so difficult to traverse that it consumed most of their time. The journey lasted more than 10 hours. They left at 9 am on Saturday and returned by helicopter the following morning, he recalled.

The mountain posed hazards beyond the disaster itself. There were leeches and poisonous snakes, as well as insects that lived in pine trees. One of them had burrowed into his skin, leaving a wound he was still carrying when he gave the interview.

The officers covered themselves as tightly as they could, fastening the cuffs of their uniforms to keep the insects out.

They slept together outdoors along the route. When they woke the next morning, they found a bear's paw print about two meters from where they had been sleeping.

"At the time, nobody had time to be frightened. We simply kept moving," he said.

From 9 am one day until noon the next, the officers ate nothing. At one point, they encountered firefighters and gave much of their food to them.

"Yet I did not feel hungry," he said.

They spent a night in the rain. He did not feel cold, either, though he knew that under normal circumstances he would have.

Once they arrived at the port, the task became harder to describe.

"The air smelled of decay. The site was completely quiet, without any sound."

The officers searched among the rocks, calling out and looking for any sign that someone might be trapped beneath them — a shoe, a piece of clothing, anything that might suggest where a person was.

"It was very difficult," Phuntsok Drakpa said. "There was nothing we could do except call out and look under the rocks."

If they found something, they dug. Sometimes, all they could do was cry, he said.

But there was no time to dwell on what they had seen. After the interview, Phuntsok Drakpa planned to head to Salhe township, taking the same mountain route again.

He still had not dealt with the insect in his skin.

"I plan to buy some insecticide and spray it so that the insect will come out on its own," he said.

Contact the writers at zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn

For Tashi Norbu's 61-year-old father from Lapher village in Gyirong county, Xizang autonomous region, starting the day with tsampa — roasted barley flour mixed with yak butter and tea — does more than nourish the body. It soothes the heart and sets a peaceful tone for the day ahead.

So when Tashi Norbu and his family were relocated to Jephuk village following the mudslide that struck the Gyirong border port on Aug 26, they found comfort in the familiar food provided at their temporary shelter, as well as in the free accommodation.

"The streets here are narrower and the houses are closer together than at our home. But the altitude of Jephuk village is similar to that of our village, so we adapted to the new environment pretty quickly," he said.

About 160 villagers from Lapher and Sichung have been resettled in rural homestays in Jephuk village, a popular tourist destination with dozens of guesthouses and restaurants.

"My father felt carsick at first during the bumpy ride here, but he feels much better after seeing a doctor arranged by relief workers and volunteers," Tashi Norbu said. "The restaurant near our temporary home sometimes brings Tibetan noodle soup to our door in the morning as a gesture of kindness."

"Despite the disaster, we feel well taken care of," he said.

According to local authorities, 499 residents from five affected villages have been relocated to five temporary shelters converted from hotels and homestays following the devastating mudslide.

Jampal Dorje, a staff member at the shelter in Jephuk village, said many of the relocated residents are elderly and have been housed with their children to ensure they receive proper care.

"Most elderly residents are not used to rice and steamed buns included in the standard food supplies, so we have requested more tsampa, Tibetan fried noodles and dumplings from the supply reserves in recent days," he said.

Jampal Dorje said staff members now visit households every day to keep track of residents' needs, paying particular attention to their health, sleep quality and other basic daily necessities.

Several medical workers are stationed at the shelter to provide care, while designated vehicles are available to transport residents with more serious symptoms to hospitals, he said.

At a hotel-turned-shelter, Dawa, a doctor from Shigatse Tibetan Medicine Hospital, said she has brought Tibetan incense and offered counseling sessions to help residents struggling with emotional distress.

In more severe cases, relatives of people who remain missing have fainted and required oxygen therapy, she said.

Karsang Tenjen Tamang, a Nepali who operates a restaurant in Jephuk village, has also opened his establishment as a place for displaced villagers and relief workers to rest.

"The government provides free meals and housing for affected residents every day. They are being well looked after here," he said.

Contact the writers at wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn

Rescuers are intensifying search operations around Gyirong Port while working to reopen the main ground route to the disaster-hit area, as difficult terrain, heavy rainfall and the risk of secondary disasters continue to complicate rescue efforts.

As of 6 pm on Tuesday, crews clearing National Highway G216 had advanced to within 700 meters of fully reopening the route. The highway was severely damaged by a massive mudslide that struck the area on Aug 26 after originating on the Nepalese side of the China-Nepal border.

The disaster caused major casualties and left many people missing, while roads, electricity and communications were also disrupted.

On Tuesday morning, memorial ceremonies for the victims were held at the core rescue area and road-clearing sites near Gyirong Port, attended by rescuers, local officials and residents.

Norbu Tsering, acting mayor of Shigatse, said rescuers had spent four consecutive days searching about 0.7 square kilometers around the border gate using life-detection equipment and other methods.

"The priority remains reopening the road to the border gate while further intensifying the search in the core area," he said.

Search operations are advancing from both directions. Firefighters are moving from the outer edge of the debris field toward Gyirong Port, while teams in the core area are searching outward. A stretch of about 2 km has so far been searched from the outer edge toward the port.

Nearly 700 personnel and more than 300 sets of machinery have been involved in restoring the land route, while supplies and additional rescue forces are being sent into the core area by air.

Large machinery is also advancing toward the core area along G216. Thubten Nyima, a firefighter with the Xizang fire and rescue brigade, said firefighters are preparing to combine mechanized excavation with more detailed manual searches once heavy equipment reaches areas where deeper debris cannot be effectively searched by hand.

The same terrain that amplified the mudslide's destructive force is now hampering rescue work. Experts said the disaster's impact was intensified by the steep elevation drop, high speed and narrow valley. The debris flow traveled about 22 km at an average speed of around 50 meters per second, gathering loose material as it descended.

Heavy machinery can only advance along the narrow valley, while search, road repair and debris-clearing teams must share the same confined corridor.

Thubten Nyima said reaching the core area had already placed heavy physical demands on rescuers, while damaged transportation and communications infrastructure created further difficulties. Deep mud has slowed movement and reduced the effectiveness of some commonly used detection equipment.

The mud in some areas is knee-or even waist-deep, he said. Teams have had to identify relatively stable routes and adjust search plans according to terrain, weather conditions and the likely direction of the mudslide. Rain can further complicate operations, requiring plans to be continuously adjusted.

Conditions along G216 remain difficult, with unstable cliffs on one side and fast-flowing water on the other. Currents reach 6 to 7 meters per second in some sections.

Lin Zhenkui, a technical expert with China Anneng Group, told CCTV that the mudslide raised the riverbed and altered the channel, forcing water onto parts of the former roadway.

In some sections, crews are effectively building a new road through the water rather than simply clearing debris. Large rocks, reinforced stone cages and diversion structures are being used to stabilize the roadbed and reduce the force of the current.

Communications and power supplies are also being restored. As of 5 pm on Tuesday, telecommunications operators had repaired one damaged base station and set up 12 emergency stations, according to the regional communications administration.

State Grid said power crews were working around the clock to support road-clearing operations, with power lines extended to within 1.6 km of Gyirong Port.

Secondary hazards remain a major concern.

Three national emergency rescue teams totaling 39 personnel have been deployed with slope radar, drones and life-detection equipment to monitor potential landslides, collapses and barrier lakes, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

China Anneng Group is also using laser-based video, artificial intelligence monitoring equipment and drones to track slope changes around the clock.

The Ministry of Water Resources said on Tuesday that 14 previously identified glacial lakes remained relatively stable, though glaciers around an impact crater near the source area in Nepal could still collapse, posing a significant risk.

Three rope-ladder evacuation routes totaling about 180 meters have also been installed along G216, allowing rescuers to reach higher ground quickly in the event of sudden flooding or another mudslide.

Norbu Tsering said authorities are maintaining contact with the families of those missing and providing updates on rescue efforts.

KATHMANDU -- Another batch of Chinese relief supplies and experts arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, by air on Tuesday, as part of Chinese aid efforts following the deadly mudslide on Wednesday.

Tailored to Nepal's on-the-ground needs, the aid package includes urgently required items such as drones, DNA testing devices and reagents, water-purification equipment, and lighting gear.

The aid came after China sent its first batch of relief supplies to Nepal on Sunday.

Five DNA identification specialists, forming the third team of Chinese aid experts for Nepal, were on the same flight. Upon their arrival, the Chinese DNA identification experts headed straight to the disaster-hit areas to assist Nepalese authorities with relief operations.

Nepalese authorities said Tuesday that the death toll from the massive mudslide had risen to 1,068, with 4,606 people still missing.

BEIJING -- Meteorological services will be further bolstered to support rescue and relief operations at mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, the China Meteorological Administration announced Tuesday.

The administration urged meteorological departments at all levels to take on responsibilities and strengthen monitoring, forecasting, early warning and risk assessment to provide support for rescue efforts.

The administration called for enhancing coordination among national, regional, county and municipal meteorological departments and making full use of emergency meteorological support teams and expert teams at the site.

New technologies and methods will be applied to monitoring, forecasting, early warning and risk assessment for potential weather events around the rescue site and surrounding areas, an official said.

The administration also vowed to enhance international cooperation and technological innovation to accelerate the improvement of risk perception and emergency response capabilities.

The deadly mudslide, caused by an ice-rock avalanche in Nepal, hit Gyirong Port on Aug 26, claiming 16 lives and leaving 546 people missing at the border port, according to the regional government's latest update.

On Aug 30, China Daily visited supply depots and other distribution points across Gyirong town, Xizang autonomous region, where relief goods from across the country are being stored and made available through multiple channels. From bottled water and packaged food to everyday necessities, the supplies are helping meet the needs of people affected by the disaster.

Nepali restaurant owner opens doors to evacuees in Gyirong county, Xizang autonomous region.

Continuous drone monitoring along the deadly mudslide-hit China-Nepal border indicates that glaciers near a scour pit in a Nepalese river that feeds into China still face a potential collapse, posing major hidden risks, the Ministry of Water Resources said.

Drone footage captured at 8 am on Tuesday shows that the water in the scour pit in Nepal's Chhochen Khola River — which converges with the Purepu Tsangpo River in China — has essentially drained, with normal discharge maintained in its downstream, the ministry said in a media release on Tuesday.

The flows of river channels upstream and downstream of the barrier lake that formed after the mudslide in the Purepu Tsangpo River remain normal, the ministry added.

It said, however, analysis of optical satellite imagery captured at 12:29 pm on Tuesday reveals small-scale landslides along both banks downstream in the barrier lake.

"The river is presently flowing unimpeded, but the danger remains that further landslides could create new barrier lakes," it said.

In the wake of the devastating mudslide that struck Gyirong county in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, on Aug 26, a Nepali restaurant owner has transformed his establishment into a sanctuary for evacuees and relief workers.

Karsang Tenjen Tamang, the owner of the restaurant, has opened his doors to those affected by the disaster, offering a place of comfort and support during these challenging times.

The mudslide, which originated on the Nepali side of the border, has left a trail of destruction, and the Chinese government has responded swiftly.

Residents from affected areas have been evacuated to safety, where they are provided with three meals a day and access to medical care.

Tamang praised the government's rapid response, saying, "The Chinese government moved people to safety right away and has taken very good care of everyone here."

Tamang's personal connection to the disaster is profound. His home village, located just across the border from Gyirong Port, was reportedly washed away by torrents of muddy water. Thankfully, his family members were in Kathmandu at the time and are safe. Survivors from his village have also been relocated to a temporary shelter in the Nepali capital.

"The road back to my village is gone, so I am not thinking about rushing home," he explained. "I will wait until everything has recovered."

Despite a decline in business due to the local government's provision of meals, Tamang remains committed to aiding those in need. His restaurant's dining hall and private rooms have become spaces for evacuees and relief workers to eat and rest. "Even with fewer customers, it's important to help in any way we can," Tamang stated.

Major hidden risks remain around a barrier lake in Gyirong county, Xizang autonomous region, that formed as a result of a deadly mudslide originating in Nepal, according to China's Ministry of Water Resources.

Downstream riverbanks remain at risk of collapse, which could create new barrier lakes, while glaciers around a nearby scour pit in a Nepalese river that drains into China also face potential collapse, the ministry said in a media release late on Monday.

Latest monitoring shows that the water surface of the scour pit in Nepal's Chhochen Khola River — which converges with the Purepu Tsangpo River in China — has continued to shrink, it said.

As of 5:14 am on Monday, its water surface spanned 83,000 square meters — a decrease of 25,000 square meters from 11 am Sunday and 14,000 square meters from 7 pm Sunday.

"Glaciers around the scour pit still face the risk of collapse, posing major hidden dangers," the ministry noted.

It said drone footage on Monday morning showed multiple landslide bodies of varying sizes along both banks within 3 kilometers downstream of the barrier lake.

The affected areas in the river are still in a state of channelized flow, but there is a risk that they could collapse and form a new barrier lake, the ministry said.

Rescue teams are advancing toward Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, as they search for missing people, work to reopen the damaged road leading to the port, and monitor the risk of further landslides and barrier lakes following last week's devastating mudslide.

The disaster occurred on Aug 26 when part of a glacier on the Nepalese side of the China-Nepal border broke away at an altitude of about 5,200 meters, triggering an ice-rock avalanche that developed into a massive debris flow before reaching Gyirong Port, more than 3,000 meters lower.

Experts attribute the disaster's unusually destructive force to a combination of the extreme elevation drop, high-speed movement, and narrow valley terrain. The debris flow traveled about 22 kilometers at an average speed of around 50 meters per second, scouring loose material along the way and gaining further volume and momentum as it descended. The V-shaped valley also concentrated the flow's energy, amplifying its impact.

The same terrain is now complicating rescue operations. Gyirong Port lies in a deep, narrow valley where heavy machinery can only advance along a limited corridor. Search teams, road crews, and debris-removal operations must share the same space, while rain, fog, strong currents, and unstable slopes continue to hinder work.

Some mud deposits appear firm but collapse underfoot, requiring rescuers in certain areas to work with ropes for protection. Helicopter operations have also been restricted by complex air currents and poor weather.

Reopening National Highway G216, the main ground route to the port, remains one of the biggest challenges. As of 5 am on Tuesday, crews had advanced to within 1 kilometer of Gyirong Port, with work entering the most difficult section of the route.

Lin Zhenkui, a technical expert with China Anneng Group, noted that the mudslide had raised the riverbed and altered the channel, diverting water onto parts of the former roadway. In some sections, rescue teams are not simply clearing a road but building a new one in the water. Where the original roadbed has disappeared, excavators risk becoming trapped in soft mud, while strong currents can wash away rocks used for filling. Crews have used reinforced rock cages, culverts, and other materials to stabilize newly built sections.

In areas covered by loose mud and sand, excavators first remove softer material to create a firmer base for personnel and heavy equipment. Search operations are continuing from both directions. Since Aug 26, firefighters from Shigatse have been advancing from the outer edge of the debris field toward Gyirong Port, while teams in the core area search outward. About 2 kilometers have been searched from the outer edge toward the port.

Secondary hazards remain a major concern as rainfall continues. Tian Bingwei, an associate professor at Sichuan University's Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, warned that slopes weakened by prolonged rain and erosion remain vulnerable to falling rocks, landslides, and further debris flows.

China Anneng Group has deployed monitoring teams along newly reopened sections and is using laser-based video and artificial intelligence equipment to track slope changes around the clock. Authorities have also warned that glaciers near the source area in Nepal could collapse again. Drone footage taken on Monday showed several landslide areas downstream from an existing barrier lake, raising the possibility that further collapses could block the river and form new barrier lakes.

To improve the safety of rescue workers, China Anneng Group has installed three rope-ladder emergency evacuation routes totaling about 180 meters along G216. These routes connect work sites with higher ground, allowing rescuers to evacuate quickly if water levels suddenly rise or another mudslide occurs.

Rescuers pay a silent tribute to the victims of the mudslide disaster at a damaged section of the national highway G216 in Gyirong county, Xizang autonomous region, on Tuesday.

Mourning ceremonies for the victims of the recent mudslide were held in Gyirong county, Xizang autonomous region, on Tuesday morning.

The ceremonies took place simultaneously at the Gyirong Port branch of the Shigatse Public Security Bureau and the disaster's main rescue site where crews are working to restore road access.

Rescue workers, local officials, and residents participated in the ceremonies, paying tribute to those who lost their lives.

The mudslide, which originated on the Nepali side of the border, struck Gyirong Port in Shigatse on Aug 26, claiming 16 lives and leaving 546 missing, according to official figures.

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

Doctors providing psychological support and traditional Tibetan therapies at a temporary shelter in Gyirong town are helping evacuees cope with fear and sleep problems following the severe mudslide that hit Gyirong Port on Wednesday. They are also continuing health screenings for elderly people and children.

The massive mudslide, originating on the Nepali side of the border, struck the Gyirong Port area in Gyirong county, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, at around 10:30 am on Wednesday. As of 6 pm on Saturday, the disaster had left 16 people dead and 546 others missing, according to regional authorities. A total of 499 residents from five at-risk villages have been relocated to temporary shelters converted from hotels and guesthouses.

Lhawang Tsering, a doctor from the Shigatse Tibetan Medicine Hospital, was dispatched to Gyirong to provide psychological support and Tibetan medical care. The four-member medical team left Shigatse on Wednesday, arrived in Gyirong at around 11 pm, and began working at the shelter the following morning. The shelter mainly accommodates residents evacuated from Trungsi village in Gyirong town and Kopa village in Salhe township.

"Some elderly residents witnessed the disaster and were deeply frightened," Lhawang Tsering said. "They were constantly worried that another disaster might occur." Some evacuees had difficulty sleeping or became irritable, while a small number experienced episodes of crying or fainting, Lhawang Tsering said. Some elderly residents also have underlying conditions such as high blood pressure.

The medical team has prioritized screenings for vulnerable residents, particularly elderly people and those whose relatives were affected by or remain missing after the disaster. Two local doctors on the team provide general medical diagnosis and treatment, while the other two members focus on psychological support and traditional Tibetan therapies.

In addition to counseling, doctors have used Horme therapy — a traditional Tibetan treatment similar to moxibustion — and Tibetan medicinal incense to help residents relax and ease emotional distress. Lhawang Tsering said the overall emotional state of evacuees had stabilized following the interventions, and no further episodes of crying or fainting had been reported.

The team is continuing to screen residents for common illnesses such as colds and diarrhea and to identify anyone who may need to be transferred to a higher-level hospital. None of the evacuated residents at the shelter was physically injured in the disaster, Lhawang Tsering said. However, the large number of elderly people and children means that regular health monitoring and targeted care remain necessary.

Contact the writers at luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn

Since a catastrophic mudslide struck the Gyirong Port area on Aug 26, veteran postman Basang Dondrub has been contributing to relief efforts at a temporary supply depot in Gyirong county, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region.

Tasked with unloading rescue equipment and donated goods, Basang Dondrub helps ensure essential supplies reach those in need.

A parking lot has been transformed into a makeshift storage site, receiving firefighting and rescue equipment from Shigatse as well as donations from across the nation. Basang Dondrub and fellow volunteers begin work at 8 or 9 am, often continuing until the early hours of the next morning, leaving them with just a few hours of rest.

"It's tiring, but when people are in difficulty, I should step forward and help," Basang Dondrub said. "As long as the relief work continues, I'll stay here."

By 6 pm on Saturday, 16 people had been confirmed dead and 546 remained missing, according to regional authorities.

Having served China Post in Gyirong county for more than a decade, Basang Dondrub volunteered for the relief mission soon after the disaster struck, drawing on his previous emergency response experience and knowing that additional manpower would be needed.

Ten postmen are currently working in the disaster-hit area, including local staff and reinforcements from Shigatse, Basang Dondrub said.

The disaster also disrupted local postal services. Road restrictions halted deliveries for two days, resulting in a backlog of more than 1,300 pieces of mail and parcels, including university admission letters and other urgent deliveries.

Postal workers coordinated with higher-level branches to resume services and clear the backlog. All the delayed items have since been delivered, Basang Dondrub said.

For Basang Dondrub, ensuring that important mail reaches people in remote communities has been part of his job for more than a decade.

He joined China Post in 2014, initially serving different townships before taking on delivery routes covering villages across Gyirong county. At one point, his routes covered 14 administrative villages in an area where mountainous terrain and unstable road conditions could turn routine deliveries into difficult journeys.

He recalled an occasion when difficult road conditions prevented a vehicle from reaching a remote village where a university admission letter needed to be delivered.

Basang Dondrub continued part of the journey on foot. With limited mobile phone coverage and homes scattered across the area, he sought help from local residents before eventually finding the student, Dorje Gyatso, and handing over the letter.

Earlier this year, Basang Dondrub moved from front-line delivery into a role overseeing universal postal services at China Post's Gyirong county branch. He was named a national model worker in 2025, an honor he said represents greater responsibility.

For now, that responsibility means remaining at the temporary supply depot, where trucks continue to arrive with equipment and donated goods.

"I'll stay here until the disaster response is over," Basang Dondrub said.

Contact the writers at palden_nyima@chinadaily.com.cn

Around 8 am on Monday, Kelsang Palmo began packing luggage for her son, who was about to start junior high school in the Gyirong county seat, about 70 kilometers away.

She stuffed a backpack with homemade Tibetan flatbread, apples, packaged cakes, cold medication and a thermos, along with a suitcase containing winter clothing and other daily necessities.

After a mudslide struck Gyirong Port in the Xizang autonomous region on Wednesday morning, Kelsang Palmo and her family from Kopa village, near the hardest-hit border crossing, were relocated to a hotel to avoid secondary disasters.

Despite the disruption caused by the mudslide, authorities have tried to maintain a sense of normalcy for local villagers, allowing the rituals and rhythms of daily life to continue.

Kelsang Palmo's son was among five children staying at the hotel who were picked up by an arranged vehicle around noon on Monday and taken to junior high school.

Throughout the morning, doors were left open as neighbors popped in and out of rooms, offering khata — silk scarves traditionally presented when welcoming or seeing off guests — to the children.

"In our tradition, each household also gives departing students some pocket money — maybe 5 to 10 yuan ($0.74 to $1.48) — as a blessing, and also so that they have some change to buy snacks while away from home," said Karma, head of Kopa village.

The temporary shelter at the hotel provides free accommodation, including three meals a day, as well as medical care and psychological support, for about 120 relocated residents from Kopa and Trungsi villages.

"We also have a group of volunteers helping address their needs. These past few days, some have accompanied parents who are not familiar with this area to nearby stores to purchase items such as winter jackets for their children," Karma said.

As relocated villagers are unable to tend to their cattle, chickens or crops at home, several officials have also remained in the village to help with poultry and farm work.

"They stay in facilities that have passed safety inspections, and we are constantly monitoring local environmental conditions to ensure their safety as well," Karma said.

Butri and her brother, Migmar, were both excited to start the new semester.

"I really like the free meals provided here, especially the white rice," Migmar said. "But I am also looking forward to visiting the school because I've never been there."

Butri said she was keen to meet her new classmates and kick shuttlecock with them.

While life continues, traces of the disaster remain visible.

The thumping of helicopters flying overhead can be heard constantly at the hotel. Residents have also put their favorite pastime of dancing and singing on hold out of respect for those who lost their lives in the mudslide.

Sangmo, mother of the siblings, occasionally scrolled through video clips of the mudslide sweeping down the area. She did not see the waves of mud and ice herself, but she remembers hearing a deafening sound at the time.

"It was horrifying," she said. "Our life here is nice, but I also miss my home."

Contact the writers at wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn

Rescuers carrying handheld tools conducted surface searches in the core disaster area of the Gyirong Port mudslide on Monday. Navigating a hazardous landscape littered with thick mud and scattered boulders, they relied on safety ropes to maneuver through the treacherous terrain.

A massive mudslide originating on the Nepalese side of the China-Nepal border struck Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, on Wednesday morning, causing major casualties and leaving people missing.