China: Barrier lake after Gyirong mudslide keeps shrinking.

Shotlist Gyirong County, Xigaze City, Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China - Aug 29, 2026 1. Various of mountains, barrier lake Beijing, China - Aug 29, 2026 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Yin Zhijie, chief hydrological forecaster, Ministry of Water Resources (starting with shot 1/ending with shots 3-5): "We continue to conduct emergency analysis using satellite remote sensing images. We have conducted emergency analysis on the Gyirong Port of the Gyirong Tsangpo River, the barrier lake of the Purepu Tsangpo River and the glacial debris at the source of the Chhochen Khola River in Nepal, mainly to assess the possible causes of the disasters and subsequent risks." 3. Sign of hydrological forecast center 4. Various of staff working on computer 5. Various of satellite remote sensing images on screen Gyirong County, Xigaze City, Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China - Aug 29, 2026 6. Various of mountains Beijing, China - Aug 29, 2026 7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhu Jinfeng, second-level investigator, Hydrology Department, Ministry of Water Resources (ending with shot 8): "A hydrological emergency monitoring team made up of personnel from the Ministry of Water Resources and Xizang's local forces has entered the site. The team, carrying equipment, trekked to the monitoring section to obtain firsthand, field-measured data, so as to provide a basis for decision-making in the emergency response and rescue efforts for the barrier lake." Gyirong County, Xigaze City, Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China - Aug 29, 2026 8. Various of mountains, barrier lake Storyline A barrier lake that formed after a mudslide hit the border port of Gyirong in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Wednesday has been shrinking, according to China's Ministry of Water Resources. Since the barrier lake formed near the confluence of Nepal's Chhochen Khola River and China's Purepu Tsangpo River, the ministry has instructed local authorities to closely monitor the lake and rainfall, strengthen forecasting and risk assessments, and accurately identify people living in downstream areas that could be affected. The barrier lake's surface area measured 99,000 square meters on Saturday morning, around 5,000 square meters less than one day earlier and about 21,000 square meters smaller than on Thursday, indicating that the water volume is gradually declining. "We continue to conduct emergency analysis using satellite remote sensing images. We have conducted emergency analysis on the Gyirong Port of the Gyirong Tsangpo River, the barrier lake of the Purepu Tsangpo River and the glacial debris at the source of the Chhochen Khola River in Nepal, mainly to assess the possible causes of the disasters and subsequent risks," said Yin Zhijie, chief hydrological forecaster with the ministry. As the mudslide occurred in a high-altitude and cold region marked by steep valleys, rapidly changing weather and numerous glaciers, ice lakes, and potential geological hazards, a monitoring team has entered the site to obtain the first-hand information and better monitor the lake. "A hydrological emergency monitoring team made up of personnel from the Ministry of Water Resources and Xizang's local forces has entered the site. The team, carrying equipment, trekked to the monitoring section to obtain firsthand, field-measured data, so as to provide a basis for decision-making in the emergency response and rescue efforts for the barrier lake," said Zhu Jinfeng, a second-level investigator with the ministry's hydrology department. A mudslide occurred in Nepal on Wednesday morning and caused heavy casualties and large numbers of missing persons at Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Shigatse City, Xizang. Seven people had been killed, and 554 others remained missing, while two local villagers had been rescued as of 1 a.m. on Saturday, according to Xizang's emergency management department. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]