A large-scale mudslide struck northern Nepal on Aug. 26, triggering a major mudslide disaster in Gyirong County in Xigaze, Xizang.
As of the evening of Aug. 29, at least 16 people had been confirmed dead and 546 remained missing on the Chinese side. The missing included 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries.
A reporter from Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group travelled day and night through difficult conditions and reached Xigaze to report from the disaster area and witness the aftermath.
After the disaster struck, the reporter travelled long distances and arrived in Xizang at the earliest opportunity. Along the way, numerous People's Liberation Army and People's Armed Police personnel were seen on alert, while rescue vehicles were frequently moving in and out of the area. Local residents said everyone was closely following the search and rescue efforts at the Gyirong Port.
Natural disasters are merciless, but people have shown compassion and solidarity. After the disaster, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee expressed his deep condolences to those who died. The HKSAR government has set aside HK$50 million from the Disaster Relief Fund for emergency relief efforts, while many members of the public have expressed their concern and sent condolences through various channels.
As search and rescue operations continue, rescue teams from different sectors are racing against time in the hope of finding and rescuing more people who remain unaccounted for as soon as possible.
The remote Gyirong Port has long had economic and trade links with HK. Following the earthquake in Dingri County, Xigaze, last year, members of HK society also made donations of money and supplies to support post-disaster reconstruction in Xigaze.
The reporter continued travelling and arrived in Xigaze on Aug. 29. The mudslide occurred at Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, which is administered by Xigaze. However, roads leading to the core disaster zone had yet to be reopened, while large numbers of rescue teams remained assembled in Xigaze awaiting deployment.
While reporting in the county town, the reporter experienced altitude sickness. Local residents immediately provided oxygen, while the hotel also offered oxygen equipment free of charge to help ease the discomfort.
A local Xizang businessman, Mr. Ma, told the reporter that he had inherited his family's cordyceps business and had long maintained business dealings with HK.
"Knowing that people in HK are very concerned about us, and that the SAR governments of HK and Macao and people from the two places have made donations, makes us feel very warm. It feels like we are one family," Ma said.
Several other residents interviewed said that although the disaster was severe, the country had attached great importance to the situation and rescue forces from across the country had been rapidly dispatched to the area.
They said the response had made them feel that when disaster strikes one place, help comes from all sides. A strong motherland has the strength to carry out rescue operations.
According to experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the major disaster was triggered by a glacier collapse in Nepal, which caused an ice-and-rock avalanche. The resulting mudslide travelled at high speed for about 22 kilometres before reaching Gyirong Port. The entire process took only around six to seven minutes.
The disaster had left at least 791 people dead and more than 3,000 missing. Nepal's latest figures put the death toll at 768, with 2,502 people missing, while Xigaze reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing.
China has mobilized 2,141 personnel from the People's Liberation Army, the People's Armed Police, fire and rescue services, border defence and public security authorities for frontline search and rescue operations.
A total of 269 rescue vehicles and 3,922 sets of rescue equipment have also been deployed to the frontline.
About 500 affected residents have been safely relocated to four temporary shelters, while 555 tourists in Gyirong Town have been evacuated and relocated.
(Reporter: Lu Gangchang)
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