GYIRONG, TIBET — China has reopened the G216 national highway leading to the Gyirong border crossing, restoring road access to communities devastated by flooding and landslides. The reopened route will allow excavators, search dogs and equipment designed to detect signs of life to reach previously inaccessible locations.
Tibetan authorities have reported 21 deaths and 541 missing people. Officials say the missing include 104 Nepali, 49 Indian, 33 Latvian and six Canadian nationals. In neighbouring Nepal, more than 1,100 deaths and nearly 4,000 missing people have been reported as the broader Himalayan disaster continues.
Persistent rain, damaged roads and unstable slopes remain serious obstacles for rescue teams.
Why it matters: Restored road access could accelerate the search for survivors and the delivery of essential supplies, although the large number of missing people means the human cost may continue to rise.
