Beijing, Sept 2: The death toll in the deadly flash flood that struck Gyirong county in Tibet near the Nepal border last week has increased to 21, with 541 others still missing, Chinese officials said on Wednesday.
According to figures released on August 30, the missing included 261 foreigners, including 49 from India and 22 other countries, state-run Xinhua news agency reported, quoting an official briefing in Tibet.
Nearly 100 Chinese nationals remain unaccounted for in Nepal, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a media briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.
He said the second batch of emergency relief supplies provided by China to Nepal reached Kathmandu on Tuesday.
China has sent five DNA forensic experts at Nepal’s request, he said.
China is preparing the third batch of emergency relief supplies based on Nepal’s request. These supplies will include Bailey bridges, mortuary refrigerators, epidemic prevention supplies and emergency communication equipment, he said.
China will also send a second group of DNA experts, he added.
He added that the Nepalese side thanked China for urgently sending more supplies and providing technical support.
Asked about steady glacier retreat in Tibet and whether China is open to forming a coordination mechanism with neighbouring countries to strengthen cooperation to deal with such disasters affecting the fragile region, Guo said Beijing has shared important images, satellite, and hydrological data with Kathmandu.
“According to the assessment of Chinese and Nepali experts, long-term effects of global warming have made glaciers unstable, and this disaster was triggered by the collapse of a glacier in Nepal, resulting in a rapid crash of ice and rocks which took away a chunk of the mountain,” he said.
“China and Nepal have maintained sound cooperation in meteorology, water conservancy and disaster prevention and reduction. In the wake of the disaster, China has shared with Nepal important information such as images, satellite and hydrological data of the disaster-affected areas, including early-warning information on an upstream barrier lake,” he said.
“We will continue to give strong support to Nepal in its relief efforts and strengthen cooperation on disaster prevention and reduction,” he said.
About the glacier retreat, he said climate change is a common challenge facing all humanity.
“No country can stay immune from such risks. China will continue to work with the international community to strengthen exchanges and cooperation and effectively prevent and mitigate the negative impact of climate change. As for your specific question, I’d refer you to competent authorities,” he said. (PTI)
