Emergency Fuel Supply Forces Mobilised To Support Mudslide-hit Port In SW China's Xizang

GYIRONG (Xizang), Sept 4 (NNN-Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Emergency Management said on Friday that it had mobilised emergency fuel supply forces from China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to support rescue operations in the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, reported Xinhua.

A fast-moving chain mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal, struck the Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border in China's Xizang on August 26, causing heavy casualties and leaving many missing.

After the mudslide, the CNPC Xizang Sales Company promptly dispatched emergency fuel supply vehicles to provide emergency refuelling support to rescue teams.

As of Friday, a total of 451 tonnes of oil products have been transported, including 163 tonnes of gasoline and 288 tonnes of diesel.

Currently, fuel inventories at gas stations in the disaster-hit area and nearby routes are sufficient and supply remains stable, according to the ministry.

Twenty-one people have been confirmed dead and 541 others remain missing after the mudslide struck the border port, according to the regional government's latest news briefing. An ice-rock avalanche originating from a high-mountain glacier in Nepal has been identified as the cause of the mudslide.

More than 2,300 rescuers had been deployed. Multiple rounds of grid and blanket searches have been completed, covering a total area of about 1.59 million square metres.

Power supply has been restored to the core area of the mudslide-hit Gyirong Port, the State Grid said.  

-- NNN-BERNAMA-XINHUA