Five people have been confirmed dead and 558 remain missing, including 260 foreign nationals, after a devastating mudslide struck China’s Gyirong border area with Nepal, as Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the disaster zone on Thursday to oversee rescue efforts.
Footage shows Li inspecting the devastated area, where torrents of water are still rushing through a mountain valley as heavy machinery works nearby. He meets rescue workers, examines maps and visits affected residents.
Li travelled to Gyirong on Thursday to oversee the emergency response, calling for every possible effort to find those still missing and restore damaged roads, communications and power supplies.
Rescue teams are also monitoring a barrier lake and unstable slopes, with fears of further flooding and landslides.
The disaster struck after a mudslide originating on the Nepalese side of the border swept into the Gyirong Port area.
“The two sides are having close communication and coordinating efforts for the search and rescue. The Chinese side is ready to provide emergency assistance in light of Nepal’s need,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday.
Chinese authorities have activated a Level I natural disaster response, while helicopters and drones have been deployed to assess the terrain and support search operations.
The disaster tore through both sides of the China-Nepal border, prompting Beijing and Kathmandu to coordinate rescue efforts.
Source: Viory
