Deadly floods and mudslides struck Nepal and Tibet on August 26, killing over 160 in Nepal and 3 in Tibet, with 558 missing in Gyirong. China allocated $31M for rescue and recovery. Search operations continue amid secondary landslide risks.
Tags:At around 10:30 a.m. on August 26, a mudslide disaster occurred on the Nepal side, causing a disaster in Gyirong County, Shigatse City, Tibet, Gyirong Port. There were major casualties and missing people.
From Armed Police Force Officer of Nepal, the disaster has affected areas along the Nepal–Tibet border, with the death toll in Nepal rising to more than 160 and 403 tourists were reported missing including 341 foreign nationals.
From CCTV news, according to preliminary figures, as of 8 a.m. today, 3 people have died and 558 people remain missing following the landslide in Tibet.
However, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Kanal told the House of Representatives that the flooding was triggered by a massive landslide caused by a magnitude 4.4 earthquake at 8:37 a.m. that day.
Scientists from Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology have initially suggested that a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) may have been one of the causes of the disaster. Glacial lakes in the Himalayas can hold millions of cubic meters of water. If a moraine dam breaks, the entire lake can potentially drain within just two or three hours.
screenshot from Tencent News
Whether caused by a glacial lake outburst or a landslide, neither scenario necessarily requires heavy rainfall, making the disaster extremely sudden and destructive for local residents—like a “bolt from the blue.”
Nepalese media reported that the local government in Rasuwa District had not detected any significant rainfall when the disaster occurred. Survivors said the flood came without warning, with people suddenly hearing a loud roar before the water arrived.
China has launched a large-scale rescue operation, sending professional rescue teams, military personnel, engineering vehicles and emergency equipment to the affected area. More than 30,000 relief supplies have also been allocated.
However, rescuers face another serious threat: unstable mountains and the possibility of secondary mudslides. Continued rain could further raise water levels and make the situation even more dangerous.
The National Development and Reform Commission has urgently allocated 100 million yuan (about US$14 million) from the central government budget to support emergency post-disaster recovery and reconstruction of infrastructure in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management have urgently released an additional 120 million yuan (about US$17 million) in central disaster-relief funds to support emergency rescue and assistance efforts following the mudslide in Gyirong, Tibet.
The funds will be used primarily for search-and-rescue operations, relocating and sheltering affected residents, eliminating safety hazards, and repairing damaged homes, with the aim of minimizing casualties and overall disaster losses.
As the disaster has affected people from several countries, we hope everyone caught in the disaster stays safe and that rescue efforts continue smoothly. Our thoughts are with all those affected and their families during this difficult time.
Source:
Editor:Vivi G
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