Search ops expand as key route to core disaster area reopened

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