Following a suspected avalanche-triggered chain of catastrophic events on the Nepalese side of the Donglin Zangbo river basin in Gyirong County, Shigatse, Tibet, around 10:30 AM on August 26th, which may have caused significant casualties, the Ministry of Natural Resources has activated a Level II emergency response for geological disasters. This decision, effective from 3:00 PM the same day, underscores the severity of the situation and the need for immediate action.

The ministry has already deployed a working group to the site to provide on-ground guidance for rescue operations and to manage the prevention of secondary geological hazards. Concurrently, the Department of Natural Resources of the Tibet Autonomous Region has been instructed to dispatch its own expert team to the front line without delay, tasked with assisting local authorities in search and rescue missions and offering crucial technical support during the emergency phase.

In a broader move to mitigate future risks, the ministry has urged local authorities to adopt a proactive approach by enhancing geological hazard inspections, monitoring, early warning systems, and emergency preparedness in similar high-risk environments. Additionally, the China Geological Survey and the Ministry's Technical Guidance Center for Geological Hazards have been directed to intensify expert coordination and collaborative assessments to ensure robust technical backing for the ongoing efforts.