Update on Missing Shaanxi Scientific Expedition Team: Rescue Team Conducts Aerial Survey of the Area

 

　　Xi’an, Shaanxi, March 2 — On February 17, three geological surveyors from the province—Yang Nengchang, Gao Chongmin, and Rong Hao—went missing while conducting a project investigation in Hoh Xil, Qinghai. After 12 days of search efforts, rescuers have yet to find any clues. As of press time, the three men remain unaccounted for...

　　In November last year, Yang Nengchang, Gao Chongmin, and Rong Hao, who worked for the Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Branch of the Shaanxi Geological and Mineral Resources Exploration and Development Company (hereinafter referred to as the “Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Branch”), traveled to Hoh Xil with the Qinghai project team of the branch to carry out an isometric regional gravity survey project. Due to the unique geographical environment of the work area, some regions could only be accessed during the coldest time of winter. Their team set off last November, planning to complete the mission by April this year.

　　Just as their families were looking forward to their reunion, on February 27 this year, the families of Yang Nengchang, Gao Chongmin, and Rong Hao suddenly received notice from the company that the three had gone out for fieldwork on February 17 and were originally scheduled to return to camp on the 19th, but had not come back by the evening of the 19th. The satellite phones they carried were also unreachable.

　　On the evening of February 19, Yang Nengchang and the other two did not return to camp on time. The Qinghai project team immediately activated an emergency response plan and launched search and rescue operations. Yesterday, Shen Anbin, deputy general manager of the Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Branch, said that every fieldwork group must carry a satellite phone when going out to work. The satellite phone can only be used when a vehicle breaks down or a team member has an accident. But since the search began, the satellite phones they carried have been unreachable.

　　“After the incident, 17 units including the Emergency Office of the Shaanxi Provincial Government, the Emergency Office of the Qinghai Provincial Government, as well as local police, armed police, and civilians joined the search,” Shen Anbin said. On February 24, Zhao Zhengyong, Governor of Shaanxi Province, instructed: “Please have the Emergency Office coordinate with the Geomineral Corporation and contact the Qinghai Emergency Office. You may request assistance from the Lanzhou Air Force helicopters for the rescue.” Jiang Zelin, member of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee and Deputy Governor, also gave instructions: “Please have the Geomineral Corporation arrange for a leader to go to the site to organize and coordinate the rescue. Strengthen the effort, carry out a full-scale search, and report to the local government to request support.”

　　“Since February 19, the rescue team has been searching non-stop. The search area has been continuously expanded, but there is still no news of them,” Shen Anbin said. “On February 29, the rescue team used aircraft to conduct an aerial survey of the area where the three team members went missing, hoping that after interpreting the aerial photos, traces of the missing team members can be found.”

　　It is understood that the work area of the three missing team members is located in Hoh Xil, covering an area of 27,490 square kilometers, with numerous lakes and marsh water systems. The southern part of the work area belongs to the Tanggula Mountains, which have a large number of modern glaciers. The average altitude is 5,000 meters, with the highest point reaching 6,621 meters. The survey area is alpine and cold, with the lowest temperature at -37°C, severely lacking in oxygen, with oxygen levels below 50%. It is a typical continental plateau climate and one of the rare blank areas in geological work. Once the weather warms up in the work area, in the swamp-covered Hoh Xil, geologists can hardly move an inch. Therefore, fieldwork can only be completed in winter to collect data.

　　Currently, the frontline rescue command is still organizing all rescue forces that have arrived at the scene to continue expanding the rescue area and constantly adjusting the rescue plan, using high-tech rescue equipment, hoping to find the missing team members as soon as possible.

　　Wife Folds Paper Boats to Pray for Yang Nengchang, News Withheld from Gao Chongmin’s Parents

　　Rong Hao’s brother-in-law introduced that Rong Hao was born in 1989 and is the youngest of the three missing workers. Rong Hao joined the army in his second year of high school and served for two years. After returning, he became very hardworking. In December 2010, Rong Hao started working, and this was his first fieldwork.

　　Rong Hao called his sister Rong Li on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month (February 6), which was his most recent conversation with his family. At that time, Rong Hao asked about his father’s 60th birthday and told his family that he would be entering a new work area again, where there was no mobile phone signal, and asked them not to worry.

　　Yesterday, Rong Hao’s mother was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment due to excessive grief. The family’s greatest wish is to see Rong Hao return home safely.

　　When the reporter met Yang Nengchang’s wife, she had just been helped back to her room by her family from the hospital, her swollen eyes filled with tears. Crying, she said: “The day before Valentine’s Day, he called me and said he was preparing to enter the work area again, where the environment is quite harsh. I didn’t expect that just a few days later, he would go missing.”

　　Yang Nengchang’s elder brother, Yang Guoqiang, pointed to a small tea table in the room filled with candles and said: “This is a heart-shaped candle arrangement that my sister-in-law specially set up to pray for my brother’s safe return.” The reporter saw that in the middle of the candles were paper boats folded by her, with the words “Yang Nengchang Safe Return Home” written on them.

　　“There are still parents over 80 years old at home, whose health has not been good. They were just discharged from the hospital a few days ago. I’m really worried that they will hear the news of their son’s disappearance,” Gao Chongmin’s wife said sadly yesterday. “Now we just hope to find my husband as soon as possible.”

　　7:22 a.m. on February 9 was the last time Gao Chongmin spoke with his son, Gao Hui. Gao Hui said that during the call, his father briefly told him that a teammate’s car radiator had broken down and asked Gao Hui to help send a replacement part. The call was intermittent and lasted only a few minutes before it was cut off without finishing, and it never connected again afterward. The family speculates that the reason the three went missing was likely due to a vehicle breakdown.

　　In order to locate the three missing geological team members as soon as possible, efforts have been mobilized across two provinces starting today, with hopes of finding the missing personnel at the earliest.

　　Missing persons

　　Yang Nengchang

　　Han ethnicity, born in December 1976, currently 36 years old, from Luotian, Hubei. Moved to Zhouzhi County with his parents during childhood. Recruited as a contract worker for the Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Team in August 1996.

　　Rong Hao

　　Han ethnicity, born in May 1989, currently 23 years old, from Jingyang, Shaanxi. Enlisted in December 2007, transferred to civilian work in 2011 and assigned to work with the Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Team.

　　Gao Chongmin

　　Han ethnicity, born in August 1959, currently 53 years old, from Lintong District, Xi’an. Started working with the Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Team in December 1977. Approved as an appointed cadre in March 1992 and appointed as a telecommunications technician. Retired in February 2009, later hired by the project department as a dedicated driver.

　　■ February 17: Yang Nengchang’s team of three conducted a three-day routine field operation as planned. They were scheduled to return to the field camp on the 19th but did not come back that evening.

　　■ February 20: The Qinghai project department organized four rescue teams (12 people) to begin the search and reported to the local government that afternoon.

　　■ February 21–22: The four teams and one local government team, totaling 15 people, searched separately within their work area — approximately 400 square kilometers northwest of Chibu Zhang Co Lake.

　　■ February 23: The local township government dispatched three vehicles and 15 motorcycles to conduct another search in the work area.

　　■ February 26: A centralized search operation commenced, with designated leaders, routes, search areas, and precautions established for each search team.

　　■ February 27: 26 people and 9 vehicles were deployed, covering about 75% of the 400-square-kilometer core area, but no clues were found.

　　■ February 28: Two major groups, totaling 14 people and 5 vehicles, searched a 200-square-kilometer area. The first search group completed the area from Dongcuo Lake — Konananshan Mountain — Leyarilangbaoribu. The second search group covered the area from Chibu Zhang Co Lake — Zhabudijialuo — Seketang, but still no clues were found.

　　■ February 29: Nearly 20 organizations from Shaanxi and Qinghai provinces jointly conducted a 12-day search, deploying 963 rescue personnel and 91 vehicles. The combined search covered a total area of 5,436 square kilometers in the core and peripheral zones, but no traces of the missing persons were found.