Kathmandu— Emergency rescue operations are underway at Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, after a mudslide impacted the area Wednesday morning. The slide originated on the Nepalese side of the border. As of Friday morning, 681 fire and rescue personnel, along with 113 vehicles and 6,612 pieces of equipment, have been deployed to the remote mountainous region in an effort to locate those missing and provide aid. Three deaths have been confirmed, while 558 people remain unaccounted for.

Extensive Rescue Resources Deployed

By Friday morning, a significant number of resources had arrived at Gyirong Township, including 681 fire and rescue personnel and 113 vehicles. In addition to manpower and vehicles, 6,612 pieces of rescue equipment and logistical supplies were dispatched to support the operation. The first team of 141 rescuers and a high-altitude helicopter arrived on Thursday morning, followed by another group of 111 from the China Search and Rescue team in the afternoon.

Multi-Faceted Search Operations

Rescue personnel have established three specialized teams to cover the challenging terrain. These teams are utilizing rubber boats for waterway searches, conducting foot patrols through mountainous areas, and employing drones for aerial reconnaissance and supply drops. An advance team is also focused on mapping the disaster area and monitoring a barrier lake formed by debris using drone technology and telescopes.

Expert Assessment of Barrier Lake Risk

Thirteen experts from the Shanghai Fire Research Institute of the Ministry of Emergency Management have arrived to assess the situation. China Anneng, a state-owned engineering and rescue enterprise, deployed a 15-member team on Friday equipped with reconnaissance drones, portable satellite stations, and mobile surveillance cameras. Their focus is surveying the blockage and surrounding roads to gather data for addressing the potential risks posed by the barrier lake. Rescue personnel stated that clearing the accumulated debris, approximately 3 kilometers upstream from the port, can only proceed once the barrier lake’s stability is ensured.

As of Friday morning, rescue operations continued with a focus on locating missing individuals and mitigating the risk associated with the blockage and potential overflow of the barrier lake.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

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Originally published on abcnews.com.np.