The Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government announced today that it will donate 30 million yuan (36. million patacas) to the Xizang Autonomous Region to support emergency rescue and post-disaster recovery following a devastating mudslide in Gyirong County, Shigatse City, on Wednesday. The financial aid will be channeled through the Macao Foundation (FM)*.
The disaster, triggered by a mudslide originating on the Nepalese side of the border, has resulted in heavy casualties and left numerous individuals missing in Gyirong.
According to a statement by the Macao Government Information Bureau (GCS), MSAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai expressed his deep concern over the disaster and has extended his official condolences to Wang Junzheng, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee. Sam offered his profound mourning for the victims and conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and those affected by the tragedy.
In addition to the 30 million yuan financial contribution, the MSAR Government committed to providing medical assistance and other essential relief resources tailored to the needs of the disaster zone, the statement said.
Emphasising the spirit of solidarity and mutual support during times of crisis, the MSAR Government has also issued a public appeal to all sectors of the local community. Local organisations and citizens are encouraged to take proactive initiatives and contribute through various channels to support the rehabilitation of Gyirong County and help displaced residents rebuild their lives.
As of the latest officials updates from the Central People’s Government, five people have been confirmed dead on the Chinese side of the border in Gyirong County, with 558 people still reported missing (including hundreds of foreign nationals and tourists), according to Xinhua. Rescue operations remain ongoing as teams navigate severe terrain and secondary flood risks.
Xinhua reported today that 626 bodies had been recovered from mudslide-hit areas in Nepal as of 10:00 a.m. (local time) yesterday, according to the country’s disaster authority.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said that 2,426 people were still missing.
*The Macao Foundation is a corporate public body dedicated to promoting, developing, and subsidising activities that benefit the MSAR's cultural, social welfare, economic, infrastructure and educational sectors, as well as providing humanitarian and disaster relief assistance. - MPD
Caption: Rescuers carry out search and rescue operations at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, yesterday. A fast-moving chain mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse on the Nepalese side, has caused heavy casualties and left many missing at a checkpoint on the China-Nepal border. Rescuers immediately launched an all-out effort to reach the mudslide-hit port and search for the missing. - Xinhua
