GYIRONG, Xizang, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers using heavy machinery are working round the clock to reopen a major highway leading to the mudslide-stricken Gyirong Port in southwest China's Xizang, facilitating entry of key equipment, personnel and supplies into the disaster area.
File photo: IC
The G216, a national highway to the port, had been restored to within 1.1 kilometers of the port as of Monday noon, rescuers from China Anneng Group said, adding that they are racing against time to restore the vital route.
A deadly mudslide, caused by an ice-rock avalanche in Nepal, hit Gyirong Port on Aug. 26, claiming 16 lives and leaving 546 others missing at the border port as of 6 p.m. Saturday, according to the regional government. It swept through the area and destroyed buildings, power supplies and a section of the G216, seriously hampering emergency response and rescue efforts.
The damaged road was covered in thick mud, blocking passage for large vehicles and making it extremely difficult for rescuers to advance on foot, according to the rescue teams. China Anneng deployed 158 emergency response personnel and 28 sets of equipment, including excavators and loaders, to repair the highway in relay operations.
Monitoring teams at the repair operation site are closely watching the mountain slopes on both sides of newly restored sections. Laser-based AI monitoring devices are being used to track changes dynamically, helping to identify, assess and warn of potential hazards in the area, ensuring the safety of frontline repair operations.
A total of 2,141 personnel have joined search and rescue operations, including personnel from the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, the China Search and Rescue Team, China Anneng, border defense units and police officers.
Despite difficulties such as high-altitude terrain, steep valleys and volatile weather, rescuers are pushing forward into the core disaster area, carrying out road mud removal, search and rescue operations, hazard identification, disinfection and epidemic prevention.
Communications have been restored at the core rescue site, allowing phone calls with rescuers at the port via a newly-built base station on Sunday, according to the regional communications administration. Telecom operators in Xizang have restored one damaged base station and built eight new ones near the port.
The People's Liberation Army Xizang Military Command mobilized an epidemic prevention team to the disaster-hit area to carry out environmental disinfection, food and water quality testing, emergency vaccinations, and routine medical rounds for injuries and illnesses on Sunday. The relief mission also included psychological support personnel, who will regularly provide psychological counseling for rescuers and the disaster-affected residents.
The barrier lake above the Gyirong Port, a major menace to the rescue operations, has basically drained, forming a flowing state of the river channel, China's Ministry of Water Resources said Sunday, citing drone footage and panoramic images captured in the morning and reports from emergency response teams.
Gyirong County is expected to see more rainfall in the coming days, with significant nighttime precipitation, the National Meteorological Center said on Sunday.