Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Xi Chairs Meeting as Tibet-Nepal Flash Floods Spur Rescue
Severe flash floods struck near the border between Tibet and Nepal.
Many people were killed, and hundreds were still missing.
Nepal reported 469 deaths, while Tibet reported three.
Rescue teams evacuated about 1,000 people, including many tourists.
Some Chinese citizens were also still missing in Nepal.
Indian pilgrims were reportedly stranded during the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
Xi Jinping led a meeting to organize more rescue and relief work.
China also warned that a newly formed lake could overflow and cause more flooding.
Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired a Communist Party meeting on Friday to review rescue and relief efforts after flash floods struck Gyirong County in Tibet.
The disaster killed 469 people in Nepal and three in Tibet, while more than 550 people remained missing in Tibet.
Officials said about 1,000 people, including 555 tourists, were evacuated to safety, though their nationalities were not disclosed.
The meeting called for scientifically planned searches for missing Chinese and foreign nationals and continued resettlement of affected residents.
China issued a Level-IV alert over a barrier lake that could breach and flood downstream areas near two rivers flowing into Nepal.
- Who
- Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese officials, rescue teams, affected residents, tourists, and missing Chinese and foreign nationals.
- What
- Officials reviewed rescue and relief efforts after deadly flash floods and warned of a potentially dangerous barrier lake.
- When
- The floods struck on Wednesday; Xi chaired the review meeting on Friday, and China issued the Level-IV warning on Thursday night.
- Where
- Gyirong County in Tibet, along the Tibet-Nepal border, and downstream areas in Nepal.
- Why
- The meeting was held to coordinate searches, rescue missing people, resettle those affected, and prepare for possible further flooding.
- Nepal death toll
- 469 people
- Tibet death toll
- 3 people
- Missing in Tibet
- More than 550 people
- Chinese nationals untraced in Nepal
- 100 people
- Evacuated
- About 1,000 people, including 555 tourists
- Flood alert
- China issued a Level-IV emergency warning
- Potential further threat
- A newly formed barrier lake may breach and flood downstream areas