China says 16 dead, 546 missing in Tibet mudslide: State media
A massive mudslide in Tibet has resulted in 16 confirmed deaths and 546 people missing, including many foreign nationals. The disaster was triggered by a glacier collapse, causing significant destruction along the border region with Nepal.
Why it matters
The scale of the disaster and the involvement of multiple nationalities highlight the humanitarian and diplomatic challenges of cross-border natural disasters.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that of the 546 people missing, 261 were foreign nationals, including 104 from Nepal, 49 from India, 33 from Latvia, and 18 from the United States.
Fire and rescue personnel conduct search and rescue operations 2 km from Gyirong Port days after the Aug 26 mudslide which destroyed the port, in Gyirong County, in China’s western Tibet region on Aug 29, 2026. (Photo: AFP/CNS)
BEIJING: China said the death toll from a mudslide that struck Tibet rose to 16 and 546 people were still missing, state media reported on Sunday (Aug 30), citing local officials.
A devastating, tsunami-like wall of water tore through the border region between Nepal and Tibet this week, sweeping away entire villages.
Figures from Nepal and from Chinese authorities in charge of Tibet put the total number of missing close to 3,000, with 691 bodies recovered.
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