China is facing accusations of restricting information about the deadly flash flood that struck the Kyirong area of Tibet before surging into Nepal, where hundreds of deaths have been reported, reports NEWSWIRE.
The sights quotes Tibetan Review, which cites international media and questions are being raised over whether Chinese authorities are limiting details emerging from the disaster-hit region.
Official figures from Beijing initially listed seven deaths and 554 missing on the Chinese side of the border soon after the disaster.
But independent verification was nearly impossible due to restrictions on access to Tibet. Reports suggest videos showing severe flooding and appeals for help disappeared from Chinese social media, while local witness accounts were removed shortly after publication.
Chinese state media has largely highlighted rescue operations and directives from national leaders, with little testimony from survivors in Tibetan communities. International outlets have noted difficulties in finding footage of the disaster on China’s tightly controlled internet, despite dramatic videos circulating globally. China’s emergency response has been extensive, with hundreds of personnel deployed. Premier Li Qiang visited the affected area, and President Xi Jinping chaired an emergency meeting to coordinate relief. Yet claims that Beijing is concealing the true scale of the disaster remain unverified.
Tibet’s restrictions on foreign journalists and researchers make independent confirmation particularly difficult. The flash flood, originating in Tibet, swept through the Gyirong border area into Nepal, leaving widespread destruction and triggering major search-and-rescue operations on both sides.
