Video shows mudslide engulfing China's Gyirong port after Nepal disaster

Footage circulated on Chinese social media shows a massive wall of mud and debris rushing through the Gyirong border trade port on 26 August. Surveillance camera video captures people fleeing as the flood advanced, while parked vehicles were quickly surrounded by rising floodwater.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the disaster on the Nepalese side had caused significant casualties and left people missing at the port as well. The footage, which was later taken down from Chinese platforms, was verified by AFP using satellite imagery and street-view data.

Rescue operations underway

The flooding at Gyirong occurred as rescue teams were already searching for victims across both Nepal and Tibet following the border-area disaster. On 27 August, Nepalese officials said at least 270 people had died, with 823 still unaccounted for, including 517 foreign tourists.

On the Chinese side, state media reported three deaths and 558 people missing in the Gyirong area, among them 260 foreign nationals. The US Geological Survey said the disaster was triggered by a glacial collapse that caused a massive debris flow, rather than the magnitude 4.4 earthquake initially reported.

Nearly 800 Chinese emergency personnel have been deployed to Tibet, and authorities have warned that additional flooding remains possible.