Chinese rescuers zero in on Tibet mudslide site as lake threat eases

BEIJING: Chinese rescuers were making steady progress on Saturday toward the disaster's center at the Tibet-Nepal border, where a massive mudslide has left hundreds missing, according to state media. The destructive surge of mud and debris struck Tibet's border town of Gyirong on Wednesday, claiming at least seven lives and leaving 554 people unaccounted for, as reported by China's Xinhua news agency.

By Saturday, over 500 rescuers had arrived at the heart of the devastation, the agency added. Rescue operations had been temporarily halted due to the risk of renewed flooding from a lake created by the disaster, but CCTV reported late Saturday that the water level in the lake was draining naturally and that it was essentially empty, citing China's Ministry of Water Resources.

The US Geological Survey attributed the disaster to a glacial collapse, which sent a torrent of debris downstream. While the precise cause of the collapse remains uncertain, climate change is contributing to the melting of glaciers worldwide, heightening the likelihood of such incidents. Rescue efforts in Tibet face ongoing challenges, including intermittent rain, the closure of access roads, and the mountainous terrain.

CCTV footage showed firefighters navigating treacherous waters in inflatable boats or being airlifted individually to the other side by a powerful drone. It also demonstrated the use of excavators and bulldozers to attempt reopening access routes.

According to Xinhua, a total of 2,141 rescuers were present near the Gyirong site by Saturday, comprising more than 500 rescuers in the worst-affected area. On Friday, 499 Chinese citizens and 555 foreigners were reported to have been evacuated from the disaster zone in southwestern China. Chinese officials have estimated that 260 foreigners are still missing in Tibet.