Due to a mudslide disaster on the Nepalese side, the Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Shigatse City, Tibet, has suffered major casualties and missing persons. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang have both issued directives, and Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing of the State Council has rushed to the scene to oversee rescue and emergency operations.
According to Xinhua News Agency reports, at around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, a mudslide on the Nepalese side caused major casualties and people to go missing at Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Shigatse City, Tibet. On the Chinese side, roads, communication, and electricity leading to Gyirong Port are in a state of disruption.
The report stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping attaches great importance and has issued important instructions, pointing out that the urgent priority is to do everything possible to search for the missing, relocate and settle affected people, and treat the injured as quickly as possible to minimize casualties. It is necessary to strengthen monitoring and early warning, focus on scientific rescue efforts, and prevent secondary disasters.
Xi Jinping emphasized that, as this is a critical period for flood control, all regions and relevant departments must adhere to bottom-line and worst-case-scenario thinking, earnestly implement all flood and typhoon prevention measures, strengthen the investigation and management of all types of risks and hidden dangers, resolutely prevent the occurrence of major and extraordinarily serious disasters and accidents, and ensure the safety of people's lives and property.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang issued instructions, stating that efforts should be made to quickly ascertain the number of missing and affected people, mobilize resources to fully carry out rescue operations, evacuate people at risk in a timely and orderly manner, and ensure scientific rescue to strictly prevent secondary disasters. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should strengthen communication and coordination with relevant countries, promptly report updates, and jointly manage rescue and emergency efforts. As this is still the main flood season, the National Disaster Reduction and Emergency Response Office should guide all regions to thoroughly inspect disaster risk hazards, enhance monitoring and early warning of dangerous situations, as well as risk elimination and avoidance efforts, to ensure people's safety.
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, together with officials from relevant departments, has rushed to the scene to guide rescue and emergency work. Tibet has organized resources to carry out on-site search and rescue efforts at full strength. Work is ongoing.
Gyirong Port is an important land border port between Tibet, China, and Nepal, connecting Gyirong County in Tibet with the Rasuwa region on the Nepalese side. After crossing the border, the road leads to Kathmandu.