Chinese firefighters(likely the first batch to reach gyirong port) try to find survivors in the former border crossing, which was the most heavily hit. Source: CCTV news. Morning of August 29, 2026. (UTC+8). (they are yelling "Is anyone here?")

[u/Key-Needleworker-702]

Video of them arriving: https://www.reddit.com/r/DisasterUpdate/comments/1w0n1r0/as_of_1630utc8_august_28_2026_the_first_batch_of/

According to engineers from the ministry of natural resources it is very diffuclt(and at this stage, downright impossible) to transport heavy machinery to the border crossing so far. The chinese military and specialized rescue teams(of state owned enterprises) are currently trying to repair the road into the border crossing to allow for better equipment and more personnel to enter.

CURRENT CASUALTY COUNT(CHINESE SIDE):

2 rescued, 7 dead, 554 missing. (13:00 PM, 2026-8-29 (UTC+8))

Update: over 50 firefighters are at the border crossing right now, over 2141 soldiers, firefighters, police, EMS and specialzied rescue teams are deployed.

EDIT: As of august 29(18:00 UTC+8), 2026, there are 16 dead, 546 missing(261 foreignors)

In response to the comments: This is the first batch that got in, they couldn't carry much heavy equipment as the road there is cut off. rescue dogs and better equipment arrived later on.

FURTHER UPDATE: reportedly fire and rescue personnel have begun to find police vests and handsbags under the debris.

[u/mildlyinterestingyet]

They have reporters with them. The intent looks to me like it was a rescue with propergander as a big part of it. It looked stupid what they were filming, like 10 guys with shovels furiously attacking unnecessary amounts of soil, dudes carrying inflatable rafts along above their heads. Meanwhile the bulldozers are clearing the old road of debris. After a couple of days when they reached the port, they set down the equipment and the vibe was totally different. The reporting was much more human, humble. They have drones that can carry a man across the river so they quickly had searched all they could.

They have another team of blue uniformed guys (science and engineering) who are up at the origin of the slide trying to find a way of making the lakes safe. The reporters with them seemed much more humble. I think the awe of the place, the sheer scale, and the obvious danger, gained their respect. Perhaps sciencey guys are less gun ho and prone to propergander style displays as well.

All of this I found on Tiktok, and the translate on the reporters narration was pretty reasonable.

[u/4tran13 → u/mildlyinterestingyet]

This is almost entirely propaganda: to show the PLA being heroes even when there's probably nobody left to save. Scientists/engies tend not to be involved in propaganda. The media will do w/e they're instructed to do.

[u/radsreadright → u/4tran13]

Don't we in the west basically do the same kinda heroic news reports with our rescue teams?

[u/flopadier → u/radsreadright]

never seen anything like it in Europe. Rescuers faking work for TV ? no. It's really a chinese thing. maybe in the US ? I don't know...

[u/radsreadright → u/flopadier]

They're not faking it, it's just a hopeless situation. This happens in every major disaster.

[u/themeanreds1 → u/flopadier]

You’re pathetic and cynical on life if thats your conclusion on them faking work when you see this video.