Tibet-Nepal Mudslide Leaves 588 Missing as China Launches Massive Military Rescue Operation

A devastating mudslide and flash floods near the Tibet-Nepal border have left three people dead and 588 others missing, triggering a major rescue operation involving Chinese military and emergency teams.

The disaster struck the Gyirong region near Gyirong Port, a strategically important border corridor connecting Tibet with Nepal. Chinese authorities have launched large-scale search and rescue operations after flash floods and mudslides swept through villages and surrounding areas.

According to official reports, two villagers have been rescued so far, while search operations continue for the hundreds of people reported missing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered authorities to make all possible efforts to locate survivors and assist communities affected by the disaster. In response, the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command deployed a coordinating group to oversee military-led rescue operations in the affected region.

The rescue team was transported to the area aboard a Y-20 military aircraft and is expected to coordinate personnel from the People's Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force. Aviation, medical, transport and engineering units have also been prepared to support the relief operation.

Rescue teams are working on clearing blocked roads, assessing the scale of the damage, searching for missing residents and relocating people from vulnerable areas. The difficult mountainous terrain and the impact of flooding are expected to complicate rescue efforts.

The Western Theatre Command is responsible for military operations across Tibet, including areas along the India-China border, making its involvement significant as authorities coordinate a large-scale emergency response near the sensitive Himalayan border region.

The Indian Embassy in China has also issued an advisory and shared contact details for Indian citizens who may have been stranded in the Tibet-Nepal border region because of the flash floods and mudslides.

The disaster has once again highlighted the vulnerability of Himalayan border regions to extreme weather events, flash floods and landslides. With hundreds still missing, rescue teams continue their search as authorities work to restore connectivity and provide assistance to affected communities.