China restores road access to Tibet disaster zone as search intensifies
"Large numbers" of heavy machines have now reached the site in Gyirong where the Chinese border inspection complex once stood, along with equipment to reinforce search operations, says state broadcaster CCTV.
China has fully reopened the only road leading to the Gyirong border crossing into Nepal after flooding damaged it a week ago. This allows heavy machinery to now reach the disaster zone in Tibet for the first time. CCTV, China's state broadcaster, reported that large numbers of heavy machines and equipment have arrived at the site, along with search teams equipped with life-detection devices and search dogs.
Despite persistent rain and challenging terrain, rescue crews are working to locate survivors. Authorities in Tibet note that while the risk of further flooding has decreased, landslides remain a concern. In Nepal, hopes of finding more survivors are fading, with at least 1,114 people reported dead and nearly 4,000 still unaccounted for.
China's official toll stands at 16 dead and 546 missing, including residents from India, Nepal, and Latvia. The Latvian ambassador to China stated that his country's embassy is in constant communication with Chinese authorities, and updates have not prompted visits to the disaster zone due to safety concerns. Much of the information about the disaster in Tibet has come through state-controlled media, with foreign journalists being denied access due to road and communication limitations.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
