China Mobilizes Military to Gyirong Port After Deadly Mudslide

By David Okafor

China has dispatched hundreds of military personnel to Gyirong Port in Tibet's Xizang Autonomous Region following a catastrophic mudslide that struck on August 26, 2026. The disaster, originating in Nepal, has resulted in three confirmed deaths and 265 missing persons, according to Chinese authorities.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has initiated a national Level-II emergency response, the second-highest tier for geological disasters, to oversee rescue operations and prevent secondary disasters. Concurrently, the National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief, alongside the Ministry of Emergency Management, has activated a Level-II disaster relief response, deploying 30,000 central relief items to aid in evacuation and resettlement efforts.

Financial support for the relief operations includes 120 million yuan (approximately US $17.7 million) allocated for natural disaster relief and an additional 100 million yuan for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.

Rescue efforts are underway with the arrival of a team of 141 personnel by August 27. The Xizang regional emergency services have deployed 792 personnel and 152 vehicles, while regional fire and rescue teams have sent 431 personnel, 72 vehicles, and specialized equipment including rescue dogs and life scanners.

President Xi Jinping has ordered comprehensive search and rescue operations, emphasizing the need for timely evacuations and medical aid. Premier Li Qiang has called for verification of missing persons, and Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has been dispatched to oversee the efforts on-site.

The Foreign Ministry has confirmed the activation of national and regional emergency responses, with military and paramilitary forces actively participating in the search and rescue operations.