Chinese rescuers reach checkpoint destroyed by deadly flash floods along Nepal border

Politburo meeting starts with moment of silence for those killed and pledges ‘international rescue cooperation’ with its neighbour

The disaster has left five dead and 558 missing in Tibet’s Gyirong county, while Nepal reported 469 dead and nearly 1,000 missing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message of condolence to his Nepalese counterpart Ram Chandra Poudel following the devastating mudslides, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Xi also chaired a meeting of the Politburo that promised to send “urgent emergency assistance” and offered “international rescue cooperation” with Nepal, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Friday’s meeting, which began with a moment of silence for the victims, called for a “scientific and well-targeted” search and rescue plan to find all those still missing.

“Search and rescue operations face extreme difficulty due to the high-altitude, frigid environment, steep valleys, volatile weather and lingering geological hazards from surrounding glaciers and glacial lakes,” the Politburo said.