China Restores Gyirong Border Road in 1 Week as Nepal Flood Toll Tops 1,000
Updated
Updated · The Independent · Sep 2
China Restores Gyirong Border Road in 1 Week as Nepal Flood Toll Tops 1,000
3 articles · Updated · The Independent · Sep 2
Summary
The last destroyed stretch of the road to the Gyirong crossing reopened Wednesday, restoring China’s main overland trade and rescue route into Nepal a week after glacier-collapse floods severed it.
The reopening lets multiple Chinese rescue teams reach hard-hit areas again, while Nepal said helicopters and other air assets pulled 118 more people to safety.
More than 600 workers are still believed trapped in mud-filled hydropower tunnels along the Trishuli River, with rescuers saying some sites cannot be entered without heavy machinery.
Nepal’s death toll passed 1,000 and about 4,000 people remained missing, though some previously missing foreign tourists have since made contact and over 11,000 people have been rescued overall.
China said it would send DNA experts, drones and water-purification gear, as Nepal shifts gradually toward rehabilitation and officials warn the disaster reflects rising Himalayan climate risks.