China-Nepal border: No sign of a once-busy port

In the wake of a devastating mudslide, rescuers in Xi An, China, were actively searching for hundreds of people missing at China's primary border crossing with Nepal. The Gyirong border crossing, nestled in a narrow river gorge, had become a symbol of the disaster following a glacier collapse on the Nepal side on August 26.

Video and photographs from the scene showed that the once-bustling port, which included a five-story customs building and a towering gate, was now devoid of any traces. Only a portion of a nearby water tower remained. Rescue teams had divided the search area into seven zones and completed four of them, leaving three zones still to be explored.

Rescue workers in China used excavators, shovels, and ground-penetrating radar to clear debris in the challenging terrain. As of Friday, over 1,300 people had lost their lives, with more than 5,000 still missing, including 261 foreigners from 23 countries. The risk of landslides, unfavorable weather, and deep mud had further complicated the rescue efforts.

The Gyirong border crossing had become the main route for trade and travel between Nepal and Tibet over the past decade, replacing a 2015 earthquake-damaged crossing in the east. It served not only as a shipment point for Chinese goods but also as a pilgrimage site for Hindu travelers bound for Mount Kailash in Tibet.