At approximately 10:30 AM on August 26th, a suspected avalanche in the Donglin Zangbo river basin in Gyirong County, Shigatse, Tibet, originating from the Nepalese side, triggered a major cascading disaster. The incident is feared to have caused significant casualties.
In response, the Ministry of Natural Resources activated a Level II emergency response for geological disasters at 3:00 PM on the same day. A working group has been dispatched to the site to assist with rescue operations and the prevention of secondary geological hazards.
The ministry has directed the Department of Natural Resources of the Tibet Autonomous Region to immediately deploy an expert team to the affected area. Their primary tasks include providing technical support during search and rescue missions and assisting local authorities with disaster response efforts. Furthermore, the department is urged to enhance patrols, monitoring, early warning systems, and preparedness for similar geological events in the region.
Additionally, the China Geological Survey and the Technical Guidance Center for Geological Disasters under the Ministry of Natural Resources have been tasked with strengthening expert coordination, organizational support, and consultative assessments to ensure comprehensive technical assistance is provided on the ground.