Nepal landslide death toll rises to 1,127 as Chinese tunnel specialists assist in rescue efforts
Chinese tunnel specialists deployed to assist in rescue operations in landslide hit Nepal have found that severe infrastructure damage and challenging geographical conditions are creating serious obstacles to on site search and rescue efforts. On Saturday, China's Ministry of Emergency Management sent a team of nine tunnel specialists to Nepal to support rescue operations at a hydropower tunnel at the request of the Nepali government. The specialists arrived by helicopter from Gyirong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region in southwestern China, reaching the disaster stricken area of Nepal at 16:58 Beijing time and immediately joining the on site rescue operation.
According to an on site expert assessment, the landslide affected a vast area, causing severe damage to both coastal residential buildings and local engineering structures, and creating a number of obstacles for frontline rescue operations. Aerial footage taken during the helicopter flight shows large scale destruction of the natural landscape and local infrastructure. Numerous houses along the river have been buried under thick layers of mud and silt, and ground transport links have been completely severed. Numerous runoff streams from the mountain slopes continue to flow into the main river channel, forming small waterfalls in places, while the water in the valley remains muddy and fast flowing.
The situation is particularly serious in the area of the hydropower project, where virtually no intact temporary structures remain. The project's main facilities, construction sites and living quarters have suffered severe damage, and the extremely difficult terrain will significantly complicate both the immediate response and subsequent rescue operations. According to the latest figures released by Nepal Police, as of 05:00 local time on Wednesday, the death toll from the massive landslide had risen to 1,127.
As CCTV+ reports, the rescue operation in Nepal is facing serious obstacles due to the scale of destruction and difficult terrain. Chinese tunnel specialists are doing everything possible to assist in the search for survivors and the restoration of infrastructure. The death toll continues to rise, and the international community has expressed readiness to provide additional support. This tragedy once again underscores the need to strengthen early warning systems and international cooperation in mountainous regions.
