Chinese PM arrives in Tibet, over 550 still missing after floods

Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Tibet on Thursday after flash floods struck the region, with more than 550 people still missing following the disaster and massive mudslides, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.

Premier Li arrived in Gyirong County, Tibet, locally known as the Xizang Autonomous Region, after the disaster hit the border area.

According to Xinhua, Li led a delegation of senior officials to oversee search and rescue operations, assess the damage, and meet affected residents and relief workers.

Chinese authorities said more than 300 residents from several settlements around Gyirong Port have been evacuated to safe locations across Gyirong County, with assistance from border inspection rescue forces.

Beijing has activated a level I emergency response to deal with the impact of the disaster, according to Chinese authorities. Meanwhile, on the other side of the border, Nepali authorities have confirmed 289 deaths and reported 826 people still missing.

More than 1,300 people, including nearly 900 foreign nationals, remain missing on both sides of the border as search operations continue, according to Chinese and Nepali authorities.

Based on satellite imagery, the flash floods and massive mudslides were likely triggered by a large block of ice breaking away from a Himalayan glacier approximately 20 kilometres northeast of the Rasuwa-Rasuwagadhi border crossing.