Rescuers with rescue and relief supplies board a plane at the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 27, 2026. The first team of 141 rescuers has arrived at the mudslide-stricken border port of Gyirong in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region Thursday morning after the disaster caused significant casualties along the China-Nepal border, according to China's Ministry of Emergency Management. The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Xizang, on Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued, local authorities said. (Photo by Liu Bing/Xinhua)
GYIRONG, Xizang, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Rescue operations intensified Thursday at the mudslide-stricken border port of Gyirong in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, as rescue teams and helicopters were dispatched to the disaster area.
The first team of 141 rescuers arrived at the port on Thursday morning after the disaster caused significant casualties along the China-Nepal border, according to China's Ministry of Emergency Management.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Xizang, on Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued.
A high-altitude helicopter has also arrived in the disaster-hit area, the ministry said.
The People's Liberation Army Xizang Military Command has dispatched two batches of helicopters to carry out disaster assessment, rescue flight route planning and search missions, while bringing medical and rescue equipment to the affected area.
Another batch of 111 rescuers from the China Search and Rescue team has arrived in Gyirong County as of 2:28 p.m. Thursday, and will head to Gyirong Port to carry out rescue operations.
An eight-member advance team from China Anneng, a state-owned engineering and rescue enterprise, arrived in Gyirong County early Thursday with communications and detection equipment to collect key data and support efforts to address an upstream blockage, which is a top priority.
Only after the risk posed by the blockage is addressed can the debris accumulated about 3 km upstream of the port be safely cleared, according to rescue personnel at the site.
Xinhua reporters have reached the barrier lake survey site. Firefighters are using drones to mark points around the lake's perimeter, allowing its surface area to be calculated from the coordinates.
Drone footage showed that the lake's water level had risen compared with Wednesday night.
The Red Cross Society of China has dispatched a working team to disaster-hit areas to assist with relief efforts. It has also allocated 2,500 sets of supplies, including tents, family emergency kits, hygiene kits, quilts, folding beds and jackets.
The Chinese Red Cross Foundation has provided more than 5,500 boxes and packages of drinking water, instant noodles, ham sausages and milk.
The road between Gyirong Township and Gyirong Port has been closed in both directions as risks of landslides, falling rocks and other secondary disasters persist. Only vehicles involved in emergency response and rescue operations are allowed through, according to a notice issued by local traffic police.
The closure will remain in place until further notice, with residents, tourists and drivers advised to stay away from the affected area and use alternative routes, the notice said. ■
This screenshot from a video clip taken on Aug. 27, 2026 shows a military helicopter heading to Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.
The first team of 141 rescuers has arrived at the mudslide-stricken border port of Gyirong in Xizang Thursday morning after the disaster caused significant casualties along the China-Nepal border, according to China's Ministry of Emergency Management.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Xizang, on Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued, local authorities said. (Photo by Hu Qiwu/Xinhua)
This screenshot from a video clip taken on Aug. 27, 2026 shows a military helicopter heading to Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.
The first team of 141 rescuers has arrived at the mudslide-stricken border port of Gyirong in Xizang Thursday morning after the disaster caused significant casualties along the China-Nepal border, according to China's Ministry of Emergency Management.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Xizang, on Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued, local authorities said. (Photo by Zhou Feng/Xinhua)
A plane carrying a rescue team and supplies arrives at an airport in Xigaze in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 27, 2026.
The first team of 141 rescuers has arrived at the mudslide-stricken border port of Gyirong in Xizang Thursday morning after the disaster caused significant casualties along the China-Nepal border, according to China's Ministry of Emergency Management.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Xizang, on Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued, local authorities said. (Photo by Zhang Ruiyu/Xinhua)
A plane carrying a rescue team and supplies arrives at an airport in Xigaze in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 27, 2026.
The first team of 141 rescuers has arrived at the mudslide-stricken border port of Gyirong in Xizang Thursday morning after the disaster caused significant casualties along the China-Nepal border, according to China's Ministry of Emergency Management.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Xizang, on Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued, local authorities said. (Photo by Zhang Ruiyu/Xinhua)
This screenshot from a video clip taken on Aug. 27, 2026 shows a military helicopter hovering over the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Xizang, on Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued, local authorities said. (Photo by Zhang Yiyue/Xinhua)
This screenshot from a video clip taken on Aug. 27, 2026 shows a military helicopter hovering over the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Xizang, on Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued, local authorities said. (Photo by Hu Qiwu/Xinhua)
This screenshot from a video clip taken on Aug. 27, 2026 shows a military helicopter hovering over the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Xizang, on Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued, local authorities said. (Photo by Zhou Feng/Xinhua)
This screenshot from a video clip taken on Aug. 27, 2026 shows a military helicopter hovering over the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Xizang, on Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued, local authorities said. (Photo by Liu Guanqing/Xinhua)
This screenshot from a video clip taken on Aug. 27, 2026 shows a military helicopter hovering over the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Xizang, on Wednesday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, three people had been killed, 558 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued, local authorities said. (Photo by Zhang Pengchuan/Xinhua)
Rescuers inspect the mudslide-hit areas with a drone, in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 27, 2026.
A mudslide, which occurred on the Nepalese side, struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County of Xigaze City, Xizang, on Wednesday morning, leaving three people dead and 558 others, including 260 foreign nationals, missing, according to preliminary estimates. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
Rescuers inspect the mudslide-hit areas with a drone, in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 27, 2026.
A mudslide, which occurred on the Nepalese side, struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County of Xigaze City, Xizang, on Wednesday morning, leaving three people dead and 558 others, including 260 foreign nationals, missing, according to preliminary estimates. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
Rescuers prepare to fly a drone to inspect the mudslide-hit areas, in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 27, 2026.
A mudslide, which occurred on the Nepalese side, struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County of Xigaze City, Xizang, on Wednesday morning, leaving three people dead and 558 others, including 260 foreign nationals, missing, according to preliminary estimates. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)
A rescuer inspects the mudslide-hit areas with a drone, in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 27, 2026.
A mudslide, which occurred on the Nepalese side, struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County of Xigaze City, Xizang, on Wednesday morning, leaving three people dead and 558 others, including 260 foreign nationals, missing, according to preliminary estimates. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
Rescuers head to Resuo Village near Gyirong Port in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 27, 2026. Rescue operations intensified Thursday at the mudslide-stricken border port of Gyirong in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, as rescue teams and helicopters were dispatched to the disaster area. (Xinhua)
Rescuers head to Resuo Village near Gyirong Port in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 27, 2026. Rescue operations intensified Thursday at the mudslide-stricken border port of Gyirong in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, as rescue teams and helicopters were dispatched to the disaster area. (Xinhua)
