Rain Returns to Tibet Landslide That Left 558 Missing, Raising Fears of Further Collapse and Flooding

[Financial News] Rescue and search operations have been put on high alert as rain is forecast for three days at the site of a landslide in Tibet, China. With 558 people still missing and fears growing over secondary damage such as additional landslides and flooding, the People's Liberation Army has launched a rescue operation using a large transport aircraft, helicopters and drones.
According to China Central Television (CCTV) and other outlets on the 27th, most areas of Gyirong County in Xigaze, Tibet Autonomous Region, are expected to see light to moderate rain, or showers accompanied by thunder and lightning, through the 30th. Local weather authorities warned that heavy rain in low-lying areas could trigger additional landslides and flooding.
Light rain is already falling at the site. Because the gorge is narrow and roads in many areas have been blocked by landslide debris, continued rain is expected to make access even more difficult for rescue workers and heavy equipment.
An official from the Ministry of Natural Resources said, "This area has a very complex terrain, with elevation differences of more than 3,000 meters between mountains and glaciers and glacial lakes on the mountaintops." He added, "Roads used by rescue personnel and equipment must be monitored closely for landslides and rockfalls."
The landslide cut off not only roads but also communications and power. In the Gyirong Port area, the main disaster zone, debris has piled up over a stretch of about 2.5 kilometers, and in some places the sediment is as deep as 1.5 meters. Authorities are rushing to clear the debris and secure access routes so rescue equipment can be brought in.
The People's Liberation Army has also joined the large-scale rescue operation. The Western Theater Command deployed a Xi'an Y-20 military transport aircraft, high-altitude Mil Mi-17 helicopters and drones to the site. The command team will oversee damage assessment, road restoration, search operations for the missing and evacuation of residents.
The Ministry of Emergency Management and the National Fire and Rescue Administration have also sent additional specialists and equipment. Personnel, satellite phones, generator vehicles and lighting equipment for restoring power and communications have been deployed to the site.
As of 8 a.m. on the day of the landslide, three people had been confirmed dead and 558 were missing. Among the missing, 260 were foreigners. With rain expected to continue for the next three days, rescuing the missing and preventing further damage have become urgent priorities.

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter