Video footage from just before a devastating mudslide struck a border post in the Tibet autonomous region captures the efforts of a police officer attempting to guide civilians to safety. The incident occurred at the Gyirong Port border checkpoint on Wednesday.

The officer, identified by state media as 34-year-old Huang Peng, was seen directing people away from the police station and rushing into a nearby tourist service centre to urge evacuation. Huang, who had worked at the border station for 13 years, was on duty at the time of the disaster. His condition remains unknown.

The mudslide resulted from the collapse of a glacier approximately seven kilometers from the crossing. The debris moved at an estimated speed of 50 meters per second, leaving minimal time for those present to react. Satellite images show that all buildings at Gyirong Port were completely destroyed by the landslide. The checkpoint's social media channels have not posted updates since the event.

Connectivity was severely disrupted in the area, with power, internet, and phone signals knocked out. Telecommunications services were partially restored on Thursday in a village about three kilometers from the border, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. Local authorities have launched search and rescue operations that continued across both sides of the border.

Online, the event triggered an outpouring of support and concern. Users posted hundreds of messages on social media, calling for updates on the safety of personnel at the border. Comments included urgent appeals for confirmation that those affected were safe.

Authorities have yet to release detailed information on casualties or the full extent of the damage, as rescue teams work amid the challenging conditions caused by the disaster.