Li Qiang visits Gyirong as barrier lake hampers Tibet flood rescue

Beijing,UPDATED: Aug 27, 2026 19:40 IST

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday visited the flood-hit Gyirong Township near the Nepal border in Tibet, where 558 people have been reported missing after a massive flash flood caused heavy casualties. The disaster struck on Wednesday morning and swept through villages and towns near the China-Nepal border.

According to state-run Xinhua news agency, the flood killed three people in Tibet and 359 in Nepal, while hundreds of others remain missing. Li led a group of senior officials from relevant departments to the affected area to supervise rescue and relief work and visit those hit by the disaster.

Rescue operations have been hampered by a huge barrier lake, which Chinese officials fear could trigger a major secondary disaster. Xinhua quoted local rescue personnel as saying that debris lying about 3 km upstream of the port can be safely cleared only after the risk posed by the blockage, or barrier lake, is addressed.

An eight-member advance team from China Anneng, a state-owned engineering and rescue enterprise, arrived in Gyirong County on Thursday with communications and detection equipment. The team is collecting key data and supporting efforts to deal with the upstream blockage, which has been identified as the top priority. Firefighters are also using drones to mark points around the lake's perimeter so that its surface area can be calculated from the coordinates. Drone footage showed the lake's water level had risen compared with Wednesday night.

A directing group of the People's Liberation Army Western Theatre Command, which looks after the India-China border in Tibet, was also sent to the area on Thursday to coordinate joint rescue operations by military personnel in Gyirong County. The People's Liberation Army Xizang Military Command has dispatched two batches of helicopters for disaster assessment, rescue flight route planning and search missions, while also transporting medical and rescue equipment to the affected area.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the Chinese side extends heartfelt sympathies to the government of Nepal and all those affected by the disaster. "The two sides are having close communication and coordinating efforts for the search and rescue. The Chinese side is ready to provide emergency assistance in light of Nepal's need", he said.

The road between Gyirong Township and Gyirong Port has been closed in both directions as the risk of landslides, falling rocks and other secondary disasters continues. According to a notice issued by local traffic police, only vehicles involved in emergency response and rescue operations are being allowed through. The closure will remain in place until further notice, with residents, tourists and drivers advised to stay away from the area and use alternative routes.

The visit by Li came as China stepped up rescue and relief efforts in Gyirong, where hundreds remain missing, a rising barrier lake has become the main concern, and access to the affected area remains tightly restricted.

With PTI Inputs

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