China: Rescue operations halted at Xizang's Gyirong Port over barrier lake breach risk.

Shotlist Gyirong County, Xigaze City, Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China - Aug 27-28, 2026 1. Floodwater near mudslide site 2. Various of rescue vehicles en route 3. Map showing analysis of landslide-dammed lake upstream of Gyirong Port China - Aug 28, 2026 4. Graphic showing before-and-after photos of mudslide-stricken region Gyirong County, Xigaze City, Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China - Aug 27-28, 2026 5. Aerial shot of barrier lake 6. Floodwater near mudslide site 7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Xu Xingguo, soldier, border defense regiment (starting with shot 6/ending with shots 8-9): "My current location is 2.5 kilometers from the Gyirong Port. This area was severely blocked by the mudslide on the previous day. We had originally planned to begin dredging operations today for search and rescue. However, due to flood alerts for the Donglin Zangbo River and the potential risk of a further barrier lake breach, we have suspended all on-site operations to conduct further assessments." 8. Various of rescue vehicles en route 9. Various of officers, community workers evacuating, resettling residents 10. Various of soldiers transporting relief supplies Storyline Rescue operations have been halted at mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, over a potentially catastrophic barrier-lake breach that threatens to trigger secondary floods and mudslides. At around 10:30 on Wednesday, a catastrophic mudslide on Nepal's side of the border caused heavy casualties and left a large number of people missing at the border port. As of 15:00 on Friday, five people had been confirmed dead, and 558 remained missing, according to data from Chinese authorities. Multiple rescue forces were dispatched to the disaster-hit area immediately after the mudslide. Armed police troops tasked with road clearance advanced to a section of the G216 National Highway, about two to three kilometers away from Gyirong Port, on Friday morning. However, all rescue operations were suspended because a barrier lake formed after the devastating mudslide poses a high risk of breaching as water continues to flow in. Aerial footage showed the dangerous barrier lake near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers, with its water volume estimated at 2.5 million cubic meters. Loose, sliding rock masses are visible on both banks. "My current location is 2.5 kilometers from the Gyirong Port. This area was severely blocked by the mudslide on the previous day. We had originally planned to begin dredging operations today for search and rescue. However, due to flood alerts for the Donglin Zangbo River and the potential risk of a further barrier lake breach, we have suspended all on-site operations to conduct further assessments," said Xu Xingguo, a soldier from a border defense regiment. Before suspending operations, local authorities completed comprehensive emergency evacuation and resettlement work. A total of 499 villagers and construction personnel from five disaster-threatened villages in Xigaze have been safely relocated. In addition, all 555 tourists previously staying in Gyirong Town have been evacuated. A full range of emergency supplies has also been delivered to Gyirong Town to support disaster relief and ensure basic living conditions for the affected people. The supplies include staple foods such as highland barley, rice and flour, cooking oil and drinking water, as well as tents, folding beds, quilts, stoves, generators and other disaster-rescue equipment and daily necessities. To support post-disaster relief and assistance, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions has allocated 4 million yuan (around 595,260 U.S. dollars) in emergency funds to console affected residents, frontline rescuers and workers, and to support ongoing rescue operations and post-disaster recovery work. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]