{"id":24183,"date":"2026-09-01T09:10:44","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T03:25:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=24183"},"modified":"2026-09-01T09:10:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T03:25:44","slug":"round-the-clock-work-underway-to-reopen-g216-highway-to-kerung-port-over-2000-rescuers-deployed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=24183","title":{"rendered":"Round-the-Clock Work Underway to Reopen G216 Highway to Kerung Port, Over 2,000 Rescuers Deployed<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dragon Media Correspondent<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rescue teams using heavy machinery are working around the clock to reopen the major highway leading to Kerung Port in China\u2019s Xizang Autonomous Region, which was severely affected by a devastating mudslide triggered by an ice-rock avalanche on the Nepal side of the Himalayas.<\/p>\n

The G216 national highway leading to Kerung Port had been reopened to within about 1.1 kilometers of the port by Monday noon, according to rescuers from China Anneng. Crews are racing to restore the vital route so that essential equipment, personnel and relief supplies can reach the disaster-stricken area.<\/p>\n

The powerful mudslide, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche in Nepal on August 26, caused severe destruction in the Kerung Port area. According to the government of the Xizang Autonomous Region, 16 people had died and 546 remained missing on the Chinese side of the border as of 6 p.m. Saturday.<\/p>\n

The disaster destroyed buildings, damaged power infrastructure and washed away part of the G216 highway, seriously disrupting emergency response and rescue operations.<\/p>\n

Thick layers of mud and debris covered the damaged road, making it impossible for large vehicles to pass and extremely difficult for rescuers to move forward on foot.<\/p>\n

China Anneng has deployed 158 emergency response personnel and 28 sets of equipment, including excavators and loaders, to repair and reopen the highway. Teams are working in continuous relay operations.<\/p>\n

Mountain slopes on both sides of the newly reopened sections are also being closely monitored. Laser-based artificial intelligence monitoring systems have been deployed to detect changes in the terrain and provide rapid assessment and early warnings of possible hazards.<\/p>\n

The technology is helping protect frontline personnel working in areas that remain vulnerable to further landslides and slope instability.<\/p>\n

More than 2,000 personnel have so far joined the search and rescue operation, including members of the People\u2019s Liberation Army, the People\u2019s Armed Police Force and China Anneng.<\/p>\n

Despite the challenges posed by high-altitude terrain, steep valleys and rapidly changing weather, rescue forces continue to work around the clock searching for missing people, repairing roads, restoring power lines and establishing communication base stations.<\/p>\n

Search dogs have been deployed along debris-covered riverbanks and steep mountain slopes, where rescue teams are inspecting gaps between twisted steel, large boulders and collapsed structures for any sign of life.<\/p>\n

One rescue worker said the mud is so deep in some areas that a person can sink halfway into it, making every step physically exhausting. Despite the conditions, teams have continued searching every possible location.<\/p>\n

On Monday afternoon, two Xinhua reporters reached the core disaster area near the border gate at Kerung Port by helicopter.<\/p>\n

Their footage showed knee-deep mud and strong winds powerful enough to make standing difficult.<\/p>\n

Xinhua reporter Pubu Cering said rescuers equipped with life detectors, demolition tools and search dogs were continuing to search for survivors and were refusing to abandon even the slightest possibility of finding someone alive.<\/p>\n

Communication services were restored at the main rescue site on Sunday after a new base station was established, allowing telephone contact with rescue personnel operating at the port.<\/p>\n

Telecommunications operators in Xizang have also restored one damaged base station and constructed eight new stations near Kerung Port.<\/p>\n

The Xizang Military Command of the People\u2019s Liberation Army has deployed an epidemic prevention team to the disaster zone.<\/p>\n

The team is conducting environmental disinfection, food and drinking-water quality testing, emergency vaccinations and regular medical checks for injuries and illnesses.<\/p>\n

Psychological support personnel have also been deployed to provide counseling to both rescuers and disaster-affected residents.<\/p>\n

A barrier lake that had formed above Kerung Port had posed one of the most serious threats to rescue operations.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s Ministry of Water Resources said that most of the water in the lake had drained by Sunday, allowing the river channel to return to a flowing state. The assessment was based on drone footage, panoramic images and reports from emergency response teams.<\/p>\n

Weather risks, however, remain.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s National Meteorological Center has forecast additional rainfall in Kerung in the coming days, with particularly significant precipitation expected during nighttime hours.<\/p>\n

Rescue teams are therefore continuing search operations, road restoration, communication repairs and power recovery while closely monitoring rainfall, slope stability and river conditions.<\/p>\n

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