Beijing – After a massive landslide on August 26 sent a torrent of mud and water across the China‑Nepal border, dozens of Chinese nationals working on a highway reconstruction project in northern Nepal have been reported missing. Families back home are calling for clearer communication and faster rescue assistance.
Families left in the dark
One mother, identified by CNN as Lili, says she called her husband repeatedly after he last spoke with a friend at 8:27 a.m. on the day of the disaster. He never answered again. Lili’s children have stayed in their rooms, fearing the worst. Similar stories echo from other relatives who have traveled to Lhasa to plead with the state‑backed engineering firm Tibet Tianlu Company for more information.
Company response and cross‑border challenges
Tibet Tianlu, which oversees the Syabrubesi‑Rasuwagadhi highway reconstruction, says it has deployed specialists, relief supplies, and heavy machinery to the affected Gyirong port area in Tibet. The firm’s board secretary office confirmed a team was set up to handle the situation, but admitted it has not received details about rescue operations on the Nepal side.
Families argue that the remote location of the project, straddling the border, hampers rescue efforts. A draft letter seen by CNN, signed by relatives of 24 workers, cites “restrictions arising from the border” that prevent Chinese rescuers from crossing into the site directly.
Government involvement
China’s Foreign Ministry announced it is making “every effort to search for and rescue people reported missing both in China and abroad.” The ministry says all Chinese nationals already reached in the disaster zone have been evacuated, though it did not give a precise count. Over the weekend, China dispatched nine tunnel‑expert teams to Nepal and shared satellite and hydrological data to aid the search.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s authorities report more than 1,000 deaths and thousands missing across the country, including over 500 foreign nationals. The Independent Power Producers Association Nepal says more than 500 workers remain missing at the Upper Trishuli‑1 Hydroelectric Project, a separate Chinese‑involved venture.
Calls for transparent updates
Relatives are urging Tibetan officials to require the construction company to establish a regular update mechanism, ensuring information is “transparent and timely.” They also request that local rescue resources be coordinated with Chinese teams to overcome the logistical hurdles posed by the border.
China recently opened two hotlines for families seeking information, but callers report the lines are often busy. The lack of timely communication has left many families in prolonged anguish, uncertain whether their loved ones are alive or deceased.
Broader implications
The disaster underscores the risks faced by Chinese workers abroad and the importance of clear cross‑border cooperation in emergency response. As the Belt and Road Initiative continues to fund infrastructure projects throughout Nepal, families hope that future agreements will include stronger safety and communication protocols.
For now, the families of the missing workers remain hopeful that coordinated rescue efforts will bring answers and, if possible, reunite them with their loved ones.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
