Kathmandu, September 05 (H.S.): China has, for the first time, officially released figures on deaths and missing persons following the landslide-triggered flooding in the Gyirong area along the Nepal-China border. China has reported that 31 bodies were recovered from the immigration and customs complex on the Chinese side of the border by 6 p.m. on Friday, while 531 people remain unaccounted for.

According to China’s state-run news agency, 531 people who were present in the building went missing after the river was flooded following the landslide. The agency said rescuers have also recovered 987 personal belongings from the affected area.

According to Chinese authorities, 58 locations with potential geological disaster risks were identified by Wednesday during an inspection of the G-216 rescue route.

Chinese officials also claimed that inspections and risk assessments of potentially hazardous areas in the border region have been completed. In addition, locations for two temporary emergency shelters have been selected.

The devastating landslide caused floodwaters flowing through Gyirong Port to destroy several buildings and damage the power supply infrastructure. A section of the G-216 highway leading towards Gyirong Port was also damaged. This has created serious obstacles to disaster management and rescue operations in the affected area.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar