China has deployed five tunnel experts to Nepal to assist rescue operations following a devastating mudslide, at the request of the Nepalese government.
The experts travelled by helicopter from Gyirong in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region and reached the disaster-hit area at 4:58 pm Beijing time on Saturday, joining efforts at a hydropower station tunnel.
Four additional Chinese tunnel specialists have also been dispatched to support complex rescue operations.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port, a major China-Nepal border crossing, on Wednesday after a high-altitude glacier collapse on the Nepalese side.
Experts have warned that such glacial disasters are becoming more frequent amid global warming.
Nepal has also agreed to specialised foreign assistance after initially relying on domestic security agencies.
China and other partner countries are providing technical support for submerged hydropower tunnel rescues, forensic identification and mass DNA testing.
Nepal’s disaster authority said 626 bodies had been recovered and 2,426 people remained missing as of 10 am Saturday. About 40 km of roads were destroyed, while preliminary assessments indicate nearly 93,000 people have been affected and urgently need humanitarian assistance.
China has pledged emergency aid and continued rescue cooperation with Nepal.
