China races to restore key Nepal border crossing after Tibet mudslide

BEIJING — Chinese rescue teams have continued working through persistent rainfall to restore the last stretch of a critical highway connecting to the Gyirong border crossing with Nepal, which was destroyed by a catastrophic mudslide last week.

The sole road providing access to the strategic border point was torn apart by the natural disaster, severely hampering movement between the two countries and disrupting local communities in Tibet's Shigatse prefecture.

Rescue operations have proceeded around the clock despite challenging weather conditions, with crews prioritizing the final kilometre of the damaged route. The restoration work is considered essential to restoring normal cross-border traffic and providing relief supplies to affected areas.

The mudslide underscores the vulnerability of Tibet's remote border regions to natural disasters during the monsoon season. Officials have not yet provided a timeline for when the road will be fully operational, though the intensive reconstruction efforts suggest authorities view the crossing's restoration as a priority.