Flash flood displaces hundreds in Xizang

Over 350 people in Gyirong county in the Xizang autonomous region have been relocated after a flash flood struck early on Tuesday, and rescue teams are racing to search for missing individuals and restore key infrastructure, local authorities said.

The flood hit around 5 am near Gyirong Port, a major border crossing between China and Nepal, affecting communities on both sides of the border. Preliminary reports suggest 11 people are missing on the Chinese side, while six Chinese construction workers remain unaccounted for in Nepal.

Emergency teams were swiftly deployed by the Shigatse city government, which oversees Gyirong. More than 320 personnel, along with 52 pieces of heavy equipment and five drones, are currently conducting search and rescue operations. Efforts are focused on locating the missing, delivering essential supplies, and evacuating residents and tourists to safety.

Transport authorities are working to restore access along the G216 highway, a key route linking Gyirong township with Nepal's Rasuwa Border Gate.

Officials say rescue and recovery efforts are continuing in an urgent yet orderly manner, with public safety and infrastructure restoration among the top priorities.