China has rejected criticism that it was slow to respond to warnings ahead of a devastating flood that struck northern Nepal and parts of Tibet on August 28. The disaster has resulted in the deaths of hundreds and left more than 3,000 people missing, according to Nepali officials.
In the immediate aftermath, some reports in Nepal suggested the flood may have been triggered by a glacial lake burst in Tibet or related to Chinese infrastructure projects, citing a similar event last year. However, scientific analysis now indicates the flood was caused by a collapse of a glacier and the underlying bedrock on the Nepalese side of the border. The resulting rock-ice avalanche rapidly descended thousands of meters into the valley, generating a deadly mud and debris flow.
The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu emphasized that Beijing has been closely monitoring the Himalayan terrain and sharing relevant risk information with Nepal. The embassy acknowledged the challenges involved in this effort, noting that the mountainous region's vast and complex nature, combined with the destabilizing impacts of a 2015 earthquake on southern slopes, complicates high-precision surveillance. “Image errors on steep slopes and high-precision monitoring over vast and complex terrain remain an international challenge,” a statement from the embassy said.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Shisir Khanal, confirmed the two countries have been cooperating closely since the disaster, with China providing data and expressing willingness to share more detailed information regarding the border region, where Chinese technology grants superior monitoring capability. He added that the disaster’s unprecedented nature required time for both nations to fully understand its scale and impact.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported on August 31 that 675 bodies had been recovered in Nepal. Chinese authorities confirmed seven fatalities within their territory. Among those missing in Nepal are approximately 900 workers involved in 13 hydropower projects affected by the flood, according to Bhim Gautam, chief executive of the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal.
Nepal has experienced significant growth in hydropower development in recent years, with more than 250 operational projects located primarily on fast-flowing Himalayan rivers sourced by glaciers. This expansion has placed many workers in increasingly vulnerable terrain, especially as warming temperatures contribute to geological instability.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah stated that rescue efforts are prioritizing workers trapped in tunnels or other hazardous areas. On August 31, he reported 279 hydroelectric plant workers had been rescued. Additional security personnel and helicopters have been deployed to aid the ongoing operations, although adverse weather has sometimes limited air rescue capacity.
The recent disaster underscores the risks facing communities and infrastructure in mountainous regions sensitive to environmental changes, highlighting the need for enhanced monitoring and bilateral cooperation along the Nepal-China border.