360 people reported missing in Tibet as Chinese Premier visits flood-affected area

PTI, August 27, 2026, Beijing: Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday visited the Gyirong Township near the Nepal border post in Tibet, where 360 people were reported missing after a massive flash flood that caused heavy casualties.

The flash flood struck the Gyirong Township in the Tibet Autonomous Region on Wednesday morning. It swept through villages and towns near the Tibet-Nepal border area, killing three in Tibet.

Li led a group of senior officials from relevant departments to the disaster-hit area, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The officials will supervise rescue and relief operations, and visit those affected by the disaster.

A directing group of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theatre Command was dispatched to the affected area on Thursday to coordinate joint rescue operations by military personnel in Gyirong County.

Following an order of Chinese President Xi Jinping for all-out search and rescue efforts, the directing group of the PLA Western Theatre Command was dispatched to the affected area.

Carried by the Y-20 transport aircraft, the group will organise military forces to assist in disaster relief efforts, Xinhua reported.

The command mobilised multiple rescue forces to the affected area to assist in road clearance, disaster assessment, search and rescue operations, and relocation of affected residents.

Meanwhile, preliminary information released by local authorities showed that 260 foreign nationals were currently missing in the area, while further details were still being verified, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a media briefing.

Nearly 100 Chinese nationals were also missing in the affected area on the Nepalese side, he said, adding that the Chinese Embassy in Nepal is further verifying the information with Nepalese authorities.