BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Meteorological authorities have set up portable automatic weather stations in the rescue area at mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region and are using satellite remote sensing to support disaster assessment, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said Saturday.
Three sets of portable automatic weather stations have been deployed to provide targeted weather support for restoring road access, search and rescue operations, drone flights and surveying a barrier lake.
A fast-moving chain mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse on the Nepalese side, has caused heavy casualties and left many missing at Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border.
Gyirong Port and the barrier lake area are forecast to see showers Saturday evening, intensifying into moderate rain at night, followed by light rain on Sunday and Monday.
Satellite remote sensing is also being used to assess damage in the disaster area. With support from the National Satellite Meteorological Center, and the Earth Observation System and Data Center of the China National Space Administration, multiple satellites have been mobilized for emergency imaging.
Meteorological teams are using the satellite data to monitor damage at the port, the collapsed mass, the landslide path and the barrier lake, providing spatial information to support decision-making by the on-site emergency command and rescue operations.
For the next stage, the CMA plans more refined weather monitoring and early warning, making greater use of Fengyun meteorological satellites, weather radar and multi-source data to assess rainfall intensity, location and duration and to evaluate possible impacts on rescue operations.
Meteorological authorities will also continue to provide rolling forecasts and risk warnings for key rescue areas and strengthen coordination with relevant departments to support safe rescue operations. ■
