Massive landslide devastates Gyirong Port, halting China-Nepal trade corridor

Around 10:30 am local time, a landslide originating in Nepal rushed into Tibet's Gyirong county, overwhelming the Gyirong Port with a wall of mud, water and debris. The disaster triggered immediate reports of major casualties and numerous missing individuals on both sides of the border. President Xi Jinping directed an all-out search and rescue operation, sending about 200 rescuers, geologists, engineers and advanced equipment such as drones and 3D laser scanners.

In Nepal, flash floods destroyed villages, roads, bridges and hydropower assets, and the Tourism Board listed 384 travelers as missing, including 291 foreigners and at least 105 Indians. The collapse shut down the key trade corridor, disrupting power, communications and freight flows that link China’s exports, notably electric vehicles, to Nepal. Roads to the port will remain closed for at least seven days while authorities continue rescue and damage assessments.