Xi Orders All-Out Rescue After Mudslide Wrecks China-Nepal Border Port

Mudslide Wrecks Gyirong Port, Cutting Lifelines

The mudslide occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time (02:30 GMT) on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, on the Nepalese side of the China-Nepal border. Within half an hour, at 10:59 a.m., the publicity department of Xigaze (Shigatse) declared a "major disaster" in the Gyirong border port area of Gyirong County, Xigaze City, in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Xinhua reported "major casualties and missing persons" at the port, which is a major land gateway connecting China and Nepal.

The immediate impact was severe: roads leading to Gyirong Port on the Chinese side were cut off, as were communications and power supplies. Drone footage showed some port buildings buried by debris, painting a stark picture of the destruction. Reuters noted that the crossing had been hit by an earlier mudslide just over a year ago, highlighting the recurring vulnerability of this vital Himalayan artery. The port's strategic importance has grown since the 2015 Gorkha earthquake badly damaged the older Zhangmu/Kodari crossing, making Gyirong a primary conduit for trade and travel between the two nations.

Xi Orders All-Out Rescue, Stresses Worst-Case Preparedness

President Xi Jinping, in his capacity as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, issued an immediate order for all-out efforts to search for and rescue the missing. He called for the evacuation of residents at risk and for timely medical treatment for the injured to minimize casualties. Xi stressed the need to strengthen monitoring and early warning systems, ensure scientific rescue operations, and guard against secondary disasters, a critical concern in mountainous terrain where aftershocks or further rainfall can trigger new slides.

Xi also placed the disaster in a broader context, noting that China is in a critical flood-control period. He urged authorities to prepare for worst-case scenarios, implement flood and typhoon prevention measures, identify potential risks, and take resolute action to prevent major and catastrophic disasters. This directive comes as the region grapples with an active storm season, with Typhoon Narra having flooded Guangxi earlier in August and three Pacific storms - Saudel, Narra, and Gaenari - churning the region simultaneously.

Premier Li and Vice Premier Zhang Mobilize Government Response

Premier Li Qiang issued instructions calling for immediate verification of the number of missing and affected people and for all-out rescue and relief efforts. In a notable diplomatic dimension, Li instructed the Foreign Ministry to strengthen communication and coordination with relevant countries, promptly share information, and work together on rescue and relief operations. This reflects the cross-border nature of the disaster, as the same weather system that triggered the mudslide also produced a flash flood on the Bhote Koshi River in northern Nepal's Rasuwa district on Wednesday morning.

Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, led officials from relevant departments to the site to guide rescue and disaster-response operations. His on-the-ground presence signals the high priority Beijing places on this incident and ensures direct coordination between central authorities and local responders in Xigaze, which immediately activated its emergency response mechanism upon the disaster's confirmation.

Military and Armed Police Deploy to the Disaster Zone

The PLA Xizang Military Command dispatched a forward command team and mobilized emergency rescue forces to the affected area. According to the Global Times, more than 130 personnel from a second rescue contingent under the Xigaze Military Subcommand, along with engineering vehicles and equipment, were placed on standby for deployment. This military mobilization underscores the scale of the response and the challenging logistics of reaching a high-altitude border port with damaged infrastructure.

In addition, 145 officers and soldiers from the Xigaze detachment of the People's Armed Police were sent to assist, as reported by the Global Times, citing the Xizang Corps of the People's Armed Police Force. The China Anneng Group, a state-owned engineering and rescue enterprise, also deployed rescue teams and equipment to assist with the emergency response, according to CGTN. Xizang authorities mobilized all available forces, with all relevant operations underway, as reported by Xinhua via gov.cn.

Nepal Side Hit by Flash Flood, Hundreds Missing

The same weather system that caused the mudslide at Gyirong Port produced a devastating flash flood on the Bhote Koshi River in northern Nepal's Rasuwa district on Wednesday morning. Nepal's tourism board reported 384 people missing, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepalis, a staggering figure that highlights the region's popularity with trekkers and mountaineers. Reuters reported at least 8 killed in the flood, which also damaged roads and power projects along the river's course.

The Bhote Koshi River flows from Tibet into Nepal, and the flood's impact on infrastructure in Rasuwa district mirrors the damage seen on the Chinese side. The river is known for its fast-flowing, glacier-fed waters, and flash floods in this region can be particularly destructive. The Nepalese government has not yet issued a full assessment of the damage, but the high number of missing persons suggests the flood struck populated areas or popular trekking routes with little warning.

Regional Context: Himalayan Vulnerability and Japan's Disaster-Response Role

The disaster underscores the inherent vulnerability of Himalayan border regions to monsoon-triggered landslides and flash floods. The 2015 Gorkha earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people in Nepal, badly damaged the older Zhangmu/Kodari crossing on the China-Nepal border, raising Gyirong's importance as a gateway. However, as Wednesday's events show, this alternative route is itself exposed to the region's volatile geology and weather patterns, which are intensifying with climate change.

Japan has long-standing disaster-response cooperation with Nepal, including significant assistance after the 2015 earthquake, and brings its own extensive experience with landslides and flood disasters to the regional table. At home, Japanese agencies operate dense landslide early-warning and river-monitoring networks, and they have shared those techniques with partners across South and Southeast Asia over the past decade. For Tokyo's policymakers, the Gyirong disaster is also a reminder that trade and aid routes across the Himalaya depend on infrastructure that monsoon rains can sever in minutes. The Asia-Pacific region is watching the Himalayan response closely, as the ability of China and Nepal to coordinate rescue efforts across a rugged border will set a precedent for future transboundary emergencies.

Rescue Operations Underway, Secondary Disaster Risks Remain

As of the latest reports, rescue operations are actively underway on both sides of the border, with Chinese authorities focusing on reaching the buried port buildings and restoring critical lifelines. The activation of a Level-II emergency response by Xigaze indicates a serious, multi-agency effort, but the cut-off roads and damaged communications are hampering initial efforts. Engineering vehicles from the military and China Anneng Group are working to clear debris and reopen access routes.

The risk of secondary disasters remains high, as Xi's directive acknowledged. The region is still in its monsoon season, and the presence of three Pacific storms in the broader region suggests continued weather instability. Authorities are monitoring the affected slopes for further movement and are on alert for additional flooding on rivers downstream. The full extent of casualties on both sides of the border is not yet known, and the coming days will be critical for search-and-rescue teams racing against time and weather.

By Kenji Tanaka, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Sources: CGTN, Xinhua, Global Times, Reuters, China Daily.