China has deployed a team of nine specialized tunnel rescue experts to Nepal to assist in ongoing emergency efforts following catastrophic flooding earlier this week. The deployment came in response to an official request from the Nepalese government, as rescue teams continue to search for survivors trapped in hydropower tunnels in the border region.
The floods, which struck on Wednesday, have resulted in significant casualties on both sides of the China-Nepal border. In Nepal, authorities have confirmed at least 675 deaths, with nearly 2,500 people reported missing, including hundreds of foreign nationals. On the Chinese side, seven fatalities have been verified, while 544 individuals remain unaccounted for as the rescue operation passes a critical 72-hour window, often considered decisive for survival odds.
Of the nine Chinese specialists, five were airlifted by helicopter on Friday from Gyirong county in Tibet’s autonomous region to the disaster site near the border, where multiple hydropower tunnels are affected. These experts are working alongside Nepali military teams, who are engaged in challenging drilling operations aimed at reaching those trapped amid unstable and debris-filled tunnels. An additional four rescue specialists were also dispatched promptly to reinforce the response.
Both countries are simultaneously conducting extensive search and recovery actions. On the Chinese side, efforts focus on clearing mudslides and debris obstructing access routes, particularly the national highway leading to the Gyirong Port border crossing. The highway has suffered severe damage, with mud depths reaching two meters in places and sections of the roadbed washed away. Persistent rainfall since Friday has complicated restoration work, though crews have reportedly cleared the path to within approximately 1.5 kilometers of the most severely affected areas.
To support ground teams, heavy-lift drones have been deployed to supply essential rescue equipment and provisions. Tibet’s military command has also contributed two helicopters for delivering food, medical kits, and gear to frontline responders. Advanced monitoring systems utilizing artificial intelligence and laser-video technology have been set up at the disaster sites to detect minute movements and provide early warnings to rescuers. This is particularly significant given the formation of a barrier lake caused by the landslide debris blocking river flow, which initially raised concerns about potential breaches.
Recent reports from Chinese hydrological authorities indicate that the barrier lake, which covers an estimated 100,000 square meters, has largely drained as the blockage eroded, reducing the immediate risk of a sudden flood. However, experts caution that further threats remain. Chen Hongqi, a senior engineer with China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, expressed concern over a larger water body forming near the collapsed glacier that initiated the disaster, along with unstable ice sheets fractured on adjacent cliffs. He emphasized the difficulty of hazard assessment due to the unique properties of ice compared to rock and called for detailed surveys before advancing rescue operations.
Since the initial arrival of rescue teams on Friday afternoon, two survivors have been found amid debris near the Gyirong border checkpoint. However, the checkpoint building itself was destroyed by the mudslide, and no other signs of life have been detected there. Liu Maolin, leader of the Chinese rescue team, noted that firefighters engaged in a systematic sweep of the area take 72-hour self-sufficiency kits into the field, equipped with supplies and gear necessary for sustained operations.
Meteorological forecasts predict light rain and temperatures as low as 8 degrees Celsius in Gyirong county over the coming days, conditions that may influence search and rescue activities. Rescue coordinators are using real-time GPS data and road condition updates to optimize the routes and deployment of teams operating in the difficult terrain.
In a related response, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu extended condolences to those affected and announced the allocation of HK$50 million from the city’s Disaster Relief Fund to support the rescue efforts. The Macau government also pledged 30 million yuan (approximately HK$35 million) to aid the operation.
Authorities on both sides of the border continue to monitor the evolving situation closely, balancing urgent rescue imperatives with caution against secondary natural hazards as they work to reach those trapped and prevent further loss of life.