Gyirong Port Mudslide: Rescue Teams Press On as Toll Rises to 16 Dead, 546 Missing

Rescue teams are continuing their search for survivors in the core area of Gyirong Port, the China-Nepal border crossing devastated by a mudslide last Wednesday. The disaster, triggered by the collapse of a high-altitude glacier on the Nepalese side, has left at least 16 people dead and 546 others missing, according to the regional government.

Aerial footage from the scene shows the scale of the destruction. The nearly 20-meter-high border gate building has been completely destroyed, with only its foundation remaining. Of all the structures that once stood at the port, only a water tower remains intact, having survived because it was situated at a relatively higher elevation on the mountainside.

The force of the mudslide has left a vast area piled high with rocks and silt, burying vehicles and other infrastructure beneath the debris. Search and rescue personnel, delivered by helicopters, are using life detection equipment and sniffer dogs to locate any signs of the missing.

On Monday afternoon, helicopters were seen landing frequently in the core search area, bringing in fresh teams of rescuers and essential relief supplies. The operations are being sustained around the clock as the desperate search for the missing continues.