Tibet's Jilong Mudslide Disaster Raises Questions About Causes

Was the massive Jilong landslide a natural disaster, or a man-made one?

[People News] On the morning of August 26, a significant ice and rock collapse occurred on the Nepal side of the China-Nepal border, triggering a mountain flood that affected Jilong Port in Jilong County, Shigatse City, Tibet. The authorities in Tibet reported on the morning of the 27th that by 8 a.m. that day, three people had died, 558 were missing, and two had been rescued. Among the missing are 260 foreign nationals.

Reports from Radio Free Asia indicate that the situation is equally dire on the Nepal side. Floodwaters are moving downstream along the river valley, causing destruction to villages, roads, bridges, and power infrastructure in areas such as Rasuwagadhi, with many local residents and foreign tourists reported missing. According to a report by Reuters on the 27th, this cross-border flood disaster has resulted in at least 165 fatalities, with nearly 1,500 people missing on both sides of the border, including over 700 missing foreigners.

Surveillance footage circulating online shows that at 10:59:52 a.m. on the 26th, individuals were still evacuating in front of the joint inspection building at Jilong Port, with vehicles parked on nearby roads. Just seconds later, a massive surge of mud and water mixed with sand and stones rushed in from both sides of the building, quickly advancing towards the road and surrounding areas. The video captures a large cloud of dust and mud rising, drastically reducing visibility, and the previously clear roads and some buildings were soon obscured. The entire event unfolded in just a few seconds, leaving little time for those on site to evacuate.

A video circulating online has been described by its publisher as depicting a construction site for a dam near Gyirong Port being hit by a mudslide. As the flood approached, workers at the site fled in all directions, and mud and debris subsequently surged into the construction area. The footage clearly shows that the construction facilities and surrounding areas were affected by the flood. Currently, there is no publicly available information detailing the name of the project or the extent of the damage.

Concerns Raised About the Cause of the Disaster

Gé Sang Jian Can, the representative of the Tibetan government-in-exile's Central Tibetan Administration in Taiwan, told reporters that he learned about the mudslide and flood at Gyirong Port through online reports and friends, but the information available locally remains limited.

He stated: "Whether it was a mudslide or some other cause that led to such a significant flood, it is undoubtedly a serious matter. This is the first time we have seen Xi Jinping address the situation, which indicates its severity, especially since it involves the border. Floods have occurred in various regions of mainland China, and it is often difficult to gauge the scale of the impact in terms of how many people have been submerged or drowned. This time, even the Vice Premier of the State Council has visited the area."

Gé Sang Jian Can emphasized that the primary concern from the outside is understanding how the flood formed. He remarked: "What exactly caused it? Did the flood originate from the direction of Nepal, or are there contributing factors from Tibet? What happened? Was there a dam breach? Or is it related to hydropower stations and dams? Over the years, numerous dams have been constructed across the entire Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and these issues need to be thoroughly investigated."

Officials from Gyirong County: More detailed information on missing persons.

Jilong Port, located on the China-Nepal border, serves as the land route connecting Tibet to Nepal. During the disaster, the area was populated not only by local villagers but also by port staff, freight and construction workers, merchants, and foreign tourists. The specific identities of the missing individuals have not yet been disclosed.

At 2:30 PM on the 27th, a reporter contacted the Jilong County Government Office. A Tibetan staff member who answered the call indicated that the county government does not have direct access to the situation on the ground in the disaster area. The information they have is primarily sourced from the front-line command center and is released to the public in a unified manner.

Reporter: Is there any updated information regarding the disaster?

Staff member: The latest update is what was released this morning. We do not have direct access to the situation here; all information is based on what the front-line command center has communicated.

Reporter: I heard that Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has arrived in the area?

Staff member: He has not yet reached the county town but should be arriving soon. It takes nearly two hours to travel from the county town to that location.

Reporter: What is the extent of the damage to Jilong Port?

Staff member: I am not sure, as we have not yet reached the site. We are also relying on official communications; all information today is primarily based on official releases.

Reporter: What is the county currently focused on?

Staff member: Mainly providing emotional support to the families.

Reporter: Are the families of the missing persons primarily Tibetan?

Staff member: There are both Tibetans and Han people; it’s about equal, with a mix of both.

The identities of the missing individuals remain unclear.

Gecang Jiancan stated that it is currently very challenging to ascertain the exact number of Tibetans among those who are missing. He explained, 'It is impossible to distinguish how many Tibetans and how many Han people there are at this moment. I believe there is no need to rush to clarify this; most villages on both sides have Tibetans. What is crucial now is to determine how many Tibetan villages have been flooded and how many people reside in those villages. Among the business personnel at the port and the workers, there are also Han people, Tibetans, and other business individuals; representatives from all ethnic groups are present.'

Glacier Collapse May Be the Trigger for the Disaster

According to Reuters, satellite data and analyses from researchers indicate that the disaster originated from a large-scale ice and rock collapse in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas. The falling ice, rock, and debris created high-speed floodwaters that surged down the river towards the Jilong port and downstream areas of Nepal.

Gecang Jiancan noted that based on currently available videos, several villages have been significantly affected by extensive flooding. He commented, 'How did such a massive disaster occur? Regardless of where the victims are from, the loss of so many lives is deeply regrettable, and we feel profound sympathy. The pressing question is, what is the true nature of this significant event? What exactly caused such a catastrophic disaster? This situation requires a clearer response for the local affected communities and the international community.'

In recent years, the Himalayan region has witnessed multiple glacier collapses, glacial lake outburst floods, and mountain torrents. Researchers have indicated that changes in the stability of high-altitude glaciers and rock formations have heightened the risk of similar disasters in this area.
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