Since the catastrophic mudslide on Aug 26, veteran postman Basang Dundrub has been contributing to relief efforts at a temporary supply depot in Gyirong, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region. Tasked with unloading rescue equipment and donated goods, Basang Dundrub helps ensure these essential supplies reach those in need.

Having served China Post in Gyirong county for over a decade, Basang Dundrub volunteered for the relief mission immediately after the disaster struck. A parking lot has been transformed into a makeshift storage site, receiving firefighting and rescue equipment from Shigatse and donations from across the nation.

Basang Dundrub 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 Dundrub said. "As long as the relief work continues, I'll stay here."

The massive mudslide, originating on the Nepalese side of the border, hit the Gyirong Port area on Aug 26. By 6 pm on Saturday, 16 people had been confirmed dead, and 546 remained missing, according to regional authorities.

Drawing on previous emergency response experience, Basang Dundrub contacted his organization soon after the disaster and volunteered to help, knowing additional manpower would be needed.

Ten postmen are currently involved in work in the disaster-hit area, including local employees and reinforcements from Shigatse, according to Basang Dundrub.

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 Dundrub said.

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

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

Basang Dundrub recalled one occasion when difficult road conditions prevented the vehicle from reaching a remote village where a university admission letter needed to be delivered.

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

"Dorje Gyatso's whole family was very happy," Basang Dundrub recalled. The family invited Basang Dundrub into their home and served butter tea and tsamba, a staple made from roasted barley flour.

"Although the journey was difficult, seeing how happy they were when they received the letter made it worthwhile," Basang Dundrub said.

Such challenges were common on the mountain routes. Basang Dundrub recalled another occasion when a vehicle broke down after dark, forcing Basang Dundrub to walk more than 10 kilometers before reaching a village and seeking help.

Earlier this year, Basang Dundrub moved from frontline delivery into a role overseeing universal postal services at China Post's Gyirong county branch. Basang Dundrub was named a National Model Worker in 2025, an honor Basang Dundrub said represents greater responsibility.

"The honor is not just a title. It represents people's trust in me," Basang Dundrub said.

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 Dundrub said.

Communication signals have reached the core rescue area at Gyirong Port in Gyirong county, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, after emergency base stations were set up to restore services disrupted by a deadly mudslide, local authorities said on Sunday.

The first emergency base station near the border gate at Gyirong Port began operating at 1:30 pm on Sunday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Nyima Dorje, director of the Xizang Communications Administration, said a newly built base station at the forefront of road repair operations had successfully connected a call with rescuers at the port, marking the extension of communication coverage to the core rescue site.

So far, telecommunications companies in Xizang have restored one damaged base station and built eight new ones. Two of the new stations were set up along the route from Gyirong county seat to Gyirong town, while six were built between Gyirong town and Gyirong Port.

The restored communication network is expected to provide stronger support for rescue coordination and emergency operations in the disaster-hit area.

The mudslide struck Gyirong Port on Wednesday morning after originating on the Nepalese side of the China-Nepal border, causing major casualties and leaving people missing.

The disaster severely damaged infrastructure leading to the port, cutting off electricity and telecommunications services and complicating rescue operations.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has fully launched risk and hazard investigations in the disaster-affected area in the Xizang autonomous region, identifying more than 60 potential geological hazard sites, eight of which have been classified as high risk, the ministry said on Sunday.

The investigation follows a major debris flow triggered by an ice avalanche in Gyirong county on Aug 26.

Since the disaster, the ministry has mobilized technical personnel from across the natural resources system, deploying four working groups equipped with drones, rangefinders and other survey instruments. The teams have focused on the ice avalanche source area, the barrier lake, debris flow channels and surrounding watersheds, conducting emergency surveying and mapping, as well as risk assessments, across the disaster-affected zone.

The ministry has also intensified geological hazard patrols along emergency rescue routes, in nearby villages and at resettlement sites. It recommended combining drone aerial surveys with manual patrols to monitor risks during search and rescue operations.

In addition, the ministry has organized more than 1,070 people, including technical professionals, grassroots officials and community-based monitoring volunteers, to expand investigations to more than 900 geological hazard sites across the broader area.

On Sunday, the ministry convened a meeting to redeploy rescue and risk response efforts. The meeting heard opinions from academicians and experts and set out requirements for front-line risk management.

It emphasized the importance of monitoring risks in the debris flow source area along the Cuojian River, a tributary where the ice collapse originated. It called for manual observation posts, integrated radar and video monitoring equipment, and microseismic sensors to be deployed on the opposite bank, working together to enable rapid early warning.

Continuous risk assessment and monitoring were also required for potential collapses and landslides caused by channel scraping as the debris flow moved downstream.

The meeting also recommended that the front-line command establish emergency shelters for rescue teams and designate emergency evacuation routes to ensure the safety of all personnel involved in rescue operations.

A barrier lake in Gyirong county, Xizang autonomous region, has essentially drained, but major hidden risks remain in a scour pit in a Nepalese river that flows into the lake and three waterlogged areas downstream, the Ministry of Water Resources said in a media release on Sunday.

The latest assessment, based on drone footage, panoramic images and reports from a front-line emergency team, showed that the barrier lake in the Purepu Tsangpo River in China has been essentially emptied and that the river channel is flowing normally, the release said.

However, major risks remain in the Chhochen Khola River, which converges with the Purepu Tsangpo River, the ministry emphasized.

A scour pit in the Nepalese river, about 5.6 kilometers upstream from the barrier lake, was still holding about 1.4 million cubic meters of water, it said. The pit is about 800 meters higher in elevation than the barrier lake.

Based on satellite imagery, the ministry said that as of 11:23 am on Saturday, the pit had a water surface area of about 108,000 square meters, down 19,000 square meters from 7 am.

Three waterlogged areas were also identified within 2.5 kilometers downstream of the pit, with a combined surface area of less than 70,000 square meters, the ministry said.

"The scour pit in the Chhochen Khola River in Nepal, and the three downstream waterlogged areas pose significant risks and hidden dangers," the ministry stressed.

The ministry also said a new barrier lake formed 2.8 kilometers downstream of the Purepu Tsangpo barrier lake after a landslide on the Nepal side on Saturday. It has since been breached by upstream inflow and is now in a state of channelized flow.

There remains a risk that new landslides could form fresh barrier lakes along the banks of several rivers in the area, the ministry said.

As of 6 pm Saturday, 16 people had been killed and 546 remained missing after the mudslide struck Gyirong Port along the China-Nepal border on Wednesday, according to Xizang's emergency management department.

China delivered 50 tons of emergency relief supplies to Nepal on Sunday and has dispatched nine tunnel rescue experts to assist with rescue operations following Wednesday's devastating mudslide.

Two Y-20 transport aircraft operated by the Chinese air force arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Sunday morning, carrying 13,200 relief items, according to the Chinese embassy in Nepal.

The supplies, including tents, blankets, sleeping bags, compressed food and first-aid kits, will be distributed to people in need in disaster-hit areas.

Four Chinese tunnel rescue experts and their equipment arrived in Kathmandu with the supplies, while five others had already reached the disaster area by helicopter from Gyirong in China's Xizang autonomous region on Saturday to begin work at a hydropower station.

China has also provided emergency financial assistance to Nepal in recent days.

A sudden glacier collapse on Wednesday in the China-Nepal border area triggered severe mudslides that led to large numbers of casualties and missing people on both sides of the border.

According to Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 734 bodies had been recovered from mudslide-hit areas as of 9 am local time on Sunday, with 2,498 people still missing.

By 9 am on Saturday, after nearly 30 hours on the road, truck driver Ma Geibu had completed his job. Ma, who is from Gansu province, and his wife had hauled an excavator from Mainling City in Nyingchi to Gyirong, a border town that has become a staging ground for rescue and relief operations following Wednesday's mudslide disaster in Nepal.

"The excavator has been handed over and should be able to reach the rescue site," Ma said over breakfast. "We'll rest for a while and then head home. We don't want to add to the burden here."

Along Gyirong avenue, the town's main street, heavy trucks stood bumper to bumper. Some carried excavators and loaders, while others brought communications equipment, food, and drinking water. The rumble of engines mixed with the sound of volunteers unloading supplies.

The massive mudslide began on the Nepalese side of the border and hit the Gyirong Port area in Gyirong county, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region. Sixteen people had been confirmed dead, and 546 others remained missing as of 6 pm on Saturday, according to the regional government. The missing included 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries.

Search and rescue operations have been complicated by washed-out roads, deep mud, and the continuing risk of secondary disasters in the mountainous border area.

On the main street, another driver surnamed Ma was resting in his cab while workers checked his load — between 20 and 30 metric tons of fresh produce, including Chinese cabbage, green peppers, and more than a dozen other vegetables urgently needed on the front line.

The same chain of support was visible in the courtyard of a local community training center, where 30 relief tents had been set up in neat rows.

Tsering Sangzhu, director of a logistics service center in Dingri county, arrived on the first day with a mobile kitchen.

"When the earthquake hit Dingri last year, people from across the country came to help us," he said. "Now Gyirong needs help, so we came. We have prepared nearly 400 meals a day over the past two days. We just want everyone working in the rescue to have something hot to eat."

At the entrance to an underground storage area at Gyirong's emergency shelter square, more than a dozen volunteers formed a human chain, moving bottled water and food from trucks. They sorted the supplies and stacked them neatly for distribution to displaced residents and frontline rescuers.

By Sunday, 57,000 essential relief items, including tents, folding beds, and clothing, had been delivered to support displaced residents, according to local authorities.

Outside, trucks carrying excavators, communications equipment, and other emergency supplies continued to line Gyirong avenue. Some drivers rested in their cabs, while others waited for instructions to unload. One driver said he had spent 20 hours on the road before reaching the town.

"I had barely stepped out of the truck when someone brought me a hot breakfast," he said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

A new landslide occurred downstream of a barrier lake in Gyirong county, Shigatse, Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, on Saturday evening, forming a new barrier dam and lake, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

The landslide was detected by reconnaissance drones deployed by members of an emergency response team coordinated by the ministry. The newly formed barrier dam is about 2.8 kilometers downstream of an existing barrier lake.

The ministry has promptly organized experts to assess the situation and is maintaining continuous drone monitoring of the lake and surrounding areas. It is also conducting ongoing consultations and risk assessments to support local authorities in emergency response and disaster relief efforts.

Rescue personnel working near the Gyirong border port have been moved to safe locations as a precaution, the ministry said.

The latest development came after a debris flow on the Nepal side of the border on the morning of Aug 26 caused heavy casualties and left people missing at Gyirong border port in Gyirong county.

According to local authorities, 2,141 personnel from the People's Liberation Army, the People's Armed Police Force, national comprehensive fire and rescue teams, border defense forces, and public security authorities have been mobilized for search and rescue operations.

The rescue effort has also deployed 269 vehicles and 3,922 pieces of rescue equipment.

Search and rescue operations are advancing toward the disaster-stricken core area by land, water and air, while authorities continue to closely monitor geological and hydrological conditions and adjust emergency response measures accordingly.

Rescuers are pushing toward the core of Gyirong Border Port from multiple directions after a severe mudslide struck the area in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, on Wednesday, officials said at a news conference on Sunday.

A rescue team has opened a mountain path from the east side of the port, allowing firefighters and rescuers to reach the core area by rope descent, said Ren Wei, deputy commander of the emergency rescue headquarters for the disaster and vice-chairman of the regional government.

"Another team is working from the north side of the port to clear a passage along the G216 highway, the main access route to the port," he said. "Search operations are continuing along both sides of the passage and the nearby Gyirong Zangbo River."

Two helicopters from the Xizang Military Command have also been deployed to deliver supplies, transfer personnel and transport victims' remains, Ren said.

Rescue operations remain difficult, as the mudslide severely damaged the G216 highway and cut power and communications to the port.

Ren said an overflowing barrier lake upstream from the National Gate area remains the most significant risk to rescue operations. Assessments indicate that the lake has already overflowed and is currently stable, with a low likelihood of a complete breach.

Taking advantage of the current window for rescue operations, teams will accelerate efforts to open access routes and step up searches in the core area, Ren said. More rescuers and equipment will be sent in by air and land to search for survivors and missing people, while authorities also speed up the transfer and identification of recovered remains and strengthen monitoring and early warning for secondary disaster risks.

Su Pengcheng, a researcher at the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said analysis of remote-sensing data and field information indicated that the disaster originated on the Nepalese side of the China-Nepal border area.

A glacier at an altitude of about 5,200 meters began collapsing at 10:52 am on Wednesday, triggering an ice-rock avalanche, Su said. The material rapidly descended and developed into a massive debris flow, reaching Gyirong Port, at an altitude of about 1,800 meters, at around 10:59 am.

The disaster flattened about 0.7 square kilometers, including 27 buildings and related facilities, and damaged roads, communications and power infrastructure around the port.

Su said long-term climate warming had contributed to glacial instability, while the disaster's sudden onset, high speed and extensive impact highlighted emerging risks from cryosphere-related hazards on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and surrounding areas.

He warned that rescuers should closely monitor the upstream area for possible secondary disasters as operations continue.

China's meteorological authorities will strengthen monitoring and early-warning capabilities across the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding high-altitude areas following a deadly mudslide that originated in Nepal, focusing on improving forecasts in remote and extreme environments.

Chen Zhenlin, head of the China Meteorological Administration, called for meteorological services to be closely aligned with rescue and relief needs after the mudslide hit Gyirong county in the Xizang autonomous region.

The administration said at a meeting on Friday that it would strengthen monitoring and forecasting for high-altitude and cold regions, where complex terrain and rapidly changing weather can make conventional forecasting particularly difficult. Meteorological authorities will make greater use of Fengyun weather satellites, weather radar, and other observation equipment, combining data from multiple sources to improve assessments of rainfall, the CMA said, aiming to provide more precise assessments of weather impacts and support safer and more effective rescue operations.

It also plans to strengthen monitoring, forecasting, and scientific research across the Third Pole, referring to the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding high mountains, which contain the world's largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar regions. The administration will optimize the distribution of meteorological stations across the plateau and improve early-warning systems for extreme weather, while strengthening forecasting capabilities ranging from short-term and imminent weather forecasts to longer-term outlooks. It will also improve meteorological services under difficult conditions, such as power, road, or telecommunications outages.

The administration plans to expand research into climate warming, coordinate research resources, and establish mechanisms for sharing information on meteorological monitoring and early warnings related to the cryosphere, including glaciers, snow, and permafrost. The CMA also said it would actively participate in surveys of glacier and glacial-lake resources across the Tibetan Plateau.

The focus on the Third Pole comes as scientists warn that climate change is rapidly altering the region's glaciers, permafrost, and water systems, potentially increasing the risks of cascading hazards such as glacier collapses, debris flows, and glacial lake outburst floods. Chen called for strict implementation of information reporting, monitoring and early-warning, international cooperation, and public science communication requirements. The administration also pledged to provide authoritative information to the public and expand education on disaster preparedness and risk avoidance.

KATHMANDU - Carried by two Y-20 transport planes, Chinese relief supplies and four Chinese rescue experts arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, at about 7 am local time on Sunday to assist in disaster relief efforts.

The two aircraft departed from Chengdu, China, earlier in the morning and arrived in Nepal after a flight of about three hours.

The relief supplies, including tents, blankets, sleeping bags, hardtack and emergency kits, were handed over to the Nepali side at the airport.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming and Nepal's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun attended the handover ceremony.

The mudslides, which hit Nepal on Wednesday, have caused heavy casualties and widespread damage to infrastructure.

Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said that 734 bodies had been recovered from mudslide-hit areas as of 9 am local time on Sunday, with 2,498 people still missing.

Rescue forces continued all-out efforts to clear damaged sections of highway G216 in Gyirong county, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, on Saturday.

A barrier lake that formed in Gyirong county, Xizang autonomous region, as a result of a deadly mudslide originating in Nepal has fully drained through natural outflow, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

The barrier lake formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola River in Nepal and Purepu Tsangpo River in China, with its water volume estimated at 2 million cubic meters as of Thursday morning, when it was already overflowing, the ministry said in an earlier media release.

Based on the latest update from a hydrological emergency monitoring team dispatched by the ministry, the barrier lake is now discharging under normal natural conditions, and the impounded water has been essentially emptied, China Central Television reported on Saturday.

Sixteen people were killed and 546 others remained missing as of 6 pm on Saturday, after the mudslide struck Gyirong Port along the China-Nepal border on Wednesday, according to Xizang's emergency management department. Among the missing, 261 have been identified as foreign nationals.

A total of 261 foreign nationals remain unaccounted for after a massive mudslide hit a border port in Gyirong county, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, local authorities said on Sunday.

The foreigners, from 23 countries, include 104 from Nepal, 49 from India, 33 from Latvia, 18 from the United States, 15 from the United Kingdom, six from Canada, six from Australia, four from South Africa, three from Russia, three from Germany, three from Malaysia, two from France, two from Ireland, two from Estonia, two from New Zealand, two from the Netherlands and one each from Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Finland, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

The figures were announced at a news conference held by the information office of the regional government, following a joint search and cross-checking of information by foreign affairs, public security, culture and tourism, and emergency management authorities.

After multiple rounds of inspections and population verification at the border port, no foreign tourists remain in Gyirong county, said Zhao Peng, vice-chairman of Xizang.

He noted that information on the foreign nationals has been reported to the relevant embassies, and that two 24-hour English-language hotlines — 0086-891-6817165 and 0086-18308026705 — have been setup for the families of the missing.

Zhao, who also serves as deputy head of the disaster's emergency and rescue command headquarters, added that the sudden and severe mudslide inflicted extensive damage on infrastructure and personnel records in the affected area, significantly hampering tracing and inspection efforts.

According to him, the foreign nationals currently registered in the county are primarily Nepali border residents, cross-border vehicle crews, and Nepali individuals in international marriages, all of whom are safe.

"For Nepali border residents wishing to return to their home country, we will carry out transfer, transportation, and customs clearance processes in a careful and orderly manner," he said. "For those who voluntarily choose to stay in Xizang, we will provide security and living support."

He emphasized that staff members will consistently respect the wishes and reasonable demands of the Nepali side, adhering to the principles of friendly consultation and prioritizing humanitarian needs.

A thorough evaluation, he said, will also be conducted to assess the departure needs of foreign tourists in Xizang, facilitating their exit through ports in Lhasa, Burang and Zhangmu, with a commitment to ensuring their safe and smooth departure.

Additionally, he added, communication with embassies in China will be strengthened to report on work progress in a timely manner.

The devastating mudslide that hit Gyirong Port in the Xizang autonomous region on Wednesday has left 16 dead and 546 others — including 261 foreign nationals — still missing, the regional government said on Sunday, as local authorities race to meet the basic needs and psychological well-being of evacuees.

Karma Tsetan, chairman of the regional government, gave the updated figures at a news conference held at the government compound in Gyirong county, Shigatse, where he called for a minute of silence for the victims.

He said the consulates of the relevant countries have been notified.

Regional authorities quickly activated the highest-level natural-disaster emergency response and set up a frontline command post to coordinate search operations, he added.

The ministries of finance and emergency management have allocated 120 million yuan ($17.8 million) for relief, while the National Development and Reform Commission separately earmarked 100 million yuan, according to the chairman.

A total of 2,141 rescuers from multiple emergency units, along with 269 vehicles and more than 3,900 sets of equipment, have been deployed to the affected zone.

Inspections of 236 buildings across five administrative villages in threatened areas have found no immediate structural risks, he said.

Authorities are using satellite remote-sensing, slope radar and hydrologic sensors to continuously monitor two barrier lakes formed by the landslide, whose dams remain relatively stable. Geologists are also scouring mountain slopes to prevent secondary slides.

He pledged to sustain rescue manpower, monitor geological risks, shelter displaced residents and push ahead with post-disaster relief and recovery efforts.

Norbu Tsering, acting mayor of Shigatse, said local authorities have rolled out a full suite of measures to safeguard the basic livelihoods and mental well-being of displaced residents.

A total of 499 residents from five affected villages have been relocated to five temporary shelters converted from hotels and homestays, he said.

The city has dispatched 116 metric tons of flour and highland barley, alongside 32,000 units of instant noodles and bottled water. An additional 57,000 essential relief items, including tents, folding beds and clothing have also been delivered to support the displaced population, Norbu Tsering said.

Authorities have set up five dedicated teams composed of grassroots officials and medical personnel to deliver round-the-clock services at the shelters.

"We have launched a one-on-one support mechanism with 24-hour on-call services to respond swiftly to displaced residents' urgent needs," he added.

Specialized care is prioritized for vulnerable groups, with dedicated caregivers assigned to residents aged over 60. Officials have also strengthened targeted monitoring and care for pregnant women and infants to guarantee tailored support.

Each shelter is staffed with psychological counselors to conduct regular mental health checks and provide professional counseling services.

In addition, authorities have arranged daily site patrols and regular maintenance for evacuees' cattle, sheep and other livestock to relieve residents of property concerns during their displacement.

Two 24-hour hotlines have been opened for families of missing Chinese nationals to make inquiries and seek assistance: 0892-8980106 and 0892-8980107, Norbu Tsering said.

On Saturday, two helicopters from the People's Liberation Army Xizang Military Command were urgently deployed to the hardest-hit area near the Gyirong Port, carrying food, medicine and rescue equipment to frontline rescuers.

China is delivering a package of assistance to Nepal, including emergency cash assistance and humanitarian aid, following a severe cross-border disaster triggered by a glacial collapse, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.

During a phone conversation with Nepali Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, Wang said disaster relief supplies provided by China would soon arrive in Kathmandu.

Chinese tunnel rescue experts have been divided into two teams and dispatched respectively to the disaster-hit area and Kathmandu to assist with rescue operations.

China has also shared with Nepal important information, including imagery, satellite and hydrological data from the disaster-hit area, as well as early-warning information on barrier lakes upstream, Wang said.

Regarding Nepali citizens stranded on the Chinese side, he said China has made proper arrangements for them and will help them return to Nepal as soon as possible.

Wang said the sudden glacial collapse in the China-Nepal border area had triggered severe mudslides, causing significant casualties and leaving people missing on both sides.

He described it as the most serious cross-border disaster between the two countries in recent years, saying the complexity and difficulty of rescue and relief operations were unprecedented.

While carrying out emergency rescue operations on its own side, China immediately extended a helping hand to support Nepal's disaster relief efforts, Wang said.

Wang thanked Nepal for its efforts to rescue and evacuate Chinese citizens in Nepal and expressed hope that the Nepali side would continue such efforts.

In the face of the disaster, he called on China and Nepal to stand firmly together, work hand in hand to overcome the difficulties and demonstrate through concrete actions their traditional friendship across the Himalayas.

Khanal expressed sincere gratitude for China's emergency humanitarian assistance.

He said that although both Nepal and China had been affected by the disaster, China had overcome its own difficulties to immediately convey sympathies and provide assistance to Nepal, fully demonstrating the high level of Nepal-China relations.

Nepal will continue to work closely with China and make every effort to rescue Chinese nationals who remain trapped or missing, while working together to rescue missing foreign nationals, Khanal said.

He added that Nepal is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in post-disaster reconstruction, disaster prevention and mitigation, and climate change response, and to further advance the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries.

On August 29, land search teams from Lhasa fire and rescue mobile detachment conducted search‑and‑rescue operations under arduous conditions in the core disaster zone of Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region. Traversing slick ground blanketed by deep suction‑heavy mud, rescuers, tethered by ropes, forge ahead in coordinated moves.

Thousands of netizens have left messages of solidarity on the social media platform of the border inspection station in Xizang autonomous region that was hit by a devastating mudslide on Wednesday.

Communications with members of staff at the Gyirong Port in Shigatse, Xizang have been lost since it was hit by a mudslide originating in Nepal on Wednesday.

On Saturday, the official WeChat account of the Xizang general station of entry-exit border inspection, which the Gyirong Port is subordinate to, shared an update revealing it had been flooded with messages, prayers and good wishes from netizens across China since Wednesday, many reading simply "We're waiting for you to come back."

The post also featured a short video clip showing officers at the Gyirong Port. As of Saturday afternoon, it had received more than 284,000 thumbs-up and been forwarded over 4,600 times, with about 6,000 comments.

A netizen using the nickname "Nanshanxianke" commented on the video, "They (the station officers) guard the nation's gateway with their lives," drawing responses from others writing, "May a miracle be with them, and may they all return safely."

"They are the pillars of their families. This is a tragedy for so many households," wrote a netizen named "Hezhouhuaer".

Another user, who goes by the name "Wuxibancaijiejie", posted a photo of a young woman in uniform sitting on a sofa, with a caption that read: "We are all waiting for you to come back. You have never made us worry during your more than a decade of service at the border. We believe you will return safely this time too. Your 1-year-old son calls 'mom' every day."

Netizen "Yanjun" wrote, "Tears welled up in my eyes. Though we are strangers to one another, our hearts are connected. You are the people I respect the most."

A posted reply from the Xizang station read: "We seek no grand ode to heroism — only a miracle that endures. May it come, and may our fellow officers return safely."