Factbox: Latest relief and rescue progress at mudslide-hit border port in China's Xizang

BEIJING, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- A fast-moving chain mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal, struck Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Aug. 26, causing heavy casualties and leaving many missing.

Chinese rescuers immediately launched an all-out effort to reach the mudslide-hit port area and search for the missing. Here is what we know about the deadly mudslide and the latest rescue and relief progress in China:

-- Sixteen people have been confirmed dead and 546 others remain missing after the mudslide struck the border port, according to the regional government's latest update.

A total of 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries have been identified as unaccounted for.

-- An ice-rock avalanche originating from a high-mountain glacier in Nepal has been identified as the cause of the mudslide.

-- Memorial services were held on Tuesday in Gyirong to mourn the victims of the mudslide.

-- More than 2,000 personnel have joined the search and rescue operations, including those from the People's Liberation Army, the People's Armed Police Force and China Anneng, a state-owned engineering and rescue enterprise. Despite difficulties such as high-altitude terrain, steep valleys and volatile weather, the rescue forces have been working around the clock to search for survivors, repair roads, set up communication base stations and restore power lines.

-- Rescuers are working round the clock to reopen a major highway leading to the Gyirong Port to facilitate the entry of key equipment, personnel and supplies into the disaster area. The G216, a national highway to the port, had been restored to within 1.1 kilometers of the port as of Monday noon.

-- On Monday afternoon, two Xinhua reporters arrived by helicopter at the core disaster-stricken area, near the border gate of the Gyirong Port. Their video footage captured scenes of knee-deep mud and powerful gusts that make it difficult to stand upright.

-- In the face of the tragic disaster, the Chinese side rejects malicious speculation that has no factual basis, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Monday at a news briefing in response to some foreign media's inappropriate remarks regarding the cause of the disaster.

-- China is making every effort to search for and rescue the missing at home and abroad, and is in close contact with foreign embassies in China to jointly conduct screening and aftermath handling for the missing foreign nationals, Guo said.

Noting that the Chinese government has provided Nepal with emergency cash assistance and humanitarian aid, Guo said that the first batch of 50 tonnes of relief supplies has already arrived in Kathmandu, and two rescue teams composed of Chinese tunnel rescue experts have rushed to the disaster-stricken areas in Nepal.

-- China has been providing Nepal with meteorological and hydrological data, conducted consultation among experts, and shared early-warning information. China will continue giving strong support to Nepal in its relief efforts and strengthen cooperation with Nepal on disaster prevention and control for the shared benefit of both peoples, Guo said.