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Nepal floods trigger landslide in Tibet, leaving 3 dead and 265 missing

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • A major landslide and flood occurred in Tibet's Gyirong County, near the Nepal border, killing three people and leaving 265 missing.
  • The disaster, possibly triggered by an avalanche in Nepal, has severed road and communication links, complicating rescue efforts in the rugged Himalayan terrain.
  • China has allocated emergency funds and dispatched thousands of rescue personnel, including military and armed police, while President Xi Jinping ordered efforts to prevent secondary disasters.

A devastating landslide and subsequent flood in China's Tibet Autonomous Region, near the border with Nepal, has claimed at least three lives and left 265 people missing. The disaster struck Gyirong County on August 26, overwhelming border checkpoints and surrounding areas.

Authorities suspect the event may have been triggered by an avalanche in Nepal. The rugged and remote Himalayan terrain presents significant challenges for rescue operations, further compounded by the destruction of roads, communication networks, and power lines. China has declared a seven-day closure of the road leading from Gyirong to the Nepal border for safety reasons.

In response, China has launched a massive rescue and relief operation. The Ministry of Emergency Management has deployed 249 national comprehensive fire rescue team members and 325 specialized rescue personnel, equipped with communication and aerial survey equipment. State-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has also sent 200 rescue workers and geological experts, with another 100 on standby.

The People's Liberation Army's Tibet Military Command has dispatched a forward command team and has 130 personnel and engineering equipment on standby. Additionally, 140 armed police officers, equipped with specialized rescue gear, are heading to the affected area. Advanced technology, including multi-functional reconnaissance drones and 3D laser scanners, is being utilized to search for survivors and assess the damage.

Beijing has allocated 220 million yuan (approximately $30 million) in emergency funds and provided 30,000 relief items, including tents, heaters, and clothing. President Xi Jinping has ordered a full-scale search and rescue effort to minimize casualties and stressed the importance of strengthening monitoring and early warning systems to prevent secondary disasters. Premier Li Qiang has also called for a swift assessment of casualties and the mobilization of all rescue capabilities.

We must minimize casualties and focus on scientific rescue to prevent secondary disasters.

— Xi JinpingChinese President Xi Jinping's directive on the disaster response.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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