Flash floods in Xizang prompt relocation of 350 people, including 90 Nepali nationals

Authorities in Shigatse of Xizang Autonomous Region said on Wednesday that after flash floods hit Gyirong Port area, the city and county governments swiftly launched emergency response measures to evacuate and relocate affected individuals. As of 10 pm on Tuesday, all 350 displaced people had been safely relocated.

Evacuees included 46 villagers from Rasuwa village, 90 Nepali traders and migrant workers, two tourists (including a driver), 61 construction workers, and 11 border checkpoint merchants. All have been temporarily accommodated in local hotels. The rest are customs and border inspection staff.

At around 5 am on Tuesday, water level of the Donglin Tsangpo River in Gyirong surged, destroying the Rasuwa Bridge (Friendship Bridge) at the Gyirong Port. As a result, 11 people on the Chinese side remain missing, including nine construction workers and two road maintenance workers.

Officials said that special arrangements have been made for vulnerable groups among the evacuees. For pilgrims, foreign tourists, and Chinese travelers needing to cross the border, officials have coordinated with foreign affairs, customs, and border control departments to open a green channel for expedited exit procedures. For Nepali border residents wishing to return, authorities are prioritizing their departure based on individual requests.