Beijing: Chinese Premier Li Qiang Thursday visited the Gyirong Township near the Nepal border post in Tibet, where 558 people were reported missing after a massive flash flood that caused heavy casualties.
The flash flood struck the Gyirong Township in the Tibet Autonomous Region Wednesday morning. It swept through villages and towns near the China-Nepal border area, killing three in Tibet and 359 in Nepal, and leaving hundreds of others missing.
State-run Xinhua news agency quoted local officials as saying that 558 people were reported missing in Tibet after a massive flash flood that caused heavy casualties.
The rescue work is hampered by a huge barrier lake, which Chinese officials, carrying out relief operations at the site, apprehend will cause a massive secondary disaster.
An eight-member advance team from China Anneng, a state-owned engineering and rescue enterprise, arrived in Gyirong County Thursday with communications and detection equipment to collect key data and support efforts to address an upstream blockage or barrier lake, which is a top priority, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Only after the risk posed by the blockage or the barrier lake is addressed can the debris accumulated about three km upstream of the port be safely cleared, according to rescue personnel at the site, the report said.
Firefighters are using drones to mark points around the lake’s perimeter, allowing its surface area to be calculated from the coordinates. Drone footage showed that the lake’s water level had risen compared with Wednesday night.
Premier Li led a group of senior officials from relevant departments to the disaster-hit area, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The officials will supervise rescue and relief operations, and visit those affected by the disaster.
A directing group of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theatre Command, which looks after the India-China border in Tibet, was dispatched to the affected area on Thursday to coordinate joint rescue operations by military personnel in Gyirong County.
Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the Chinese side extends heartfelt sympathies to the government of Nepal and all those hit by the disaster.
“The two sides are having close communication and coordinating efforts for the search and rescue. The Chinese side is ready to provide emergency assistance in light of Nepal’s need,” he said.
The People’s Liberation Army Xizang Military Command has dispatched two batches of helicopters to carry out disaster assessment, rescue flight route planning and search missions, while bringing medical and rescue equipment to the affected area.
The road between Gyirong Township and Gyirong Port has been closed in both directions as risks of landslides, falling rocks and other secondary disasters persist.
Only vehicles involved in emergency response and rescue operations are allowed through, according to a notice issued by local traffic police. The closure will remain in place until further notice, with residents, tourists and drivers advised to stay away from the affected area and use alternative routes, Xinhua reported.