CHENGDU, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- A directing group from the Western Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been dispatched to the Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China on Thursday morning to coordinate joint rescue operations by military personnel in mudslide-hit Gyirong County.

Carried by the Y-20 transport aircraft of the western theater command, the group will organize military forces to assist in disaster relief efforts.

The mudslide, which occurred on Wednesday, has resulted in three people dead and 558 missing in Gyirong as of Thursday morning, according to initial estimates.

The command responded immediately following the disaster, mobilizing multiple rescue forces to the affected area to assist in road clearance, disaster assessment, search and rescue operations, and relocation of affected residents.

The team dispatched will assume unified command over PLA and Armed Police Force rescue units, with aviation, medical, transportation, and engineering corps fully prepared for timely operations when they are needed.