Jilong Mudslide: 16 Dead, 546 Missing After Glacier Collapse
A catastrophic mudslide triggered by a glacier collapse in the Nepalese Himalayas has killed at least 16 people and left 546 missing at China’s Jilong Port in Tibet, according to Xinhua News. The disaster, which struck on August 26, has also devastated Nepal’s northern region, where 675 people have been confirmed dead and 2,498 remain missing.
The Disaster Unfolds
At approximately 10:52 AM Beijing time on August 26, a glacier at roughly 5,200 meters elevation on the southern slope of Langtang Lirung peak in Nepal collapsed, triggering an ice-rock avalanche that transformed into a massive mudslide. The debris flow traveled approximately 22 kilometers in just 6-7 minutes before slamming into Jilong Port at around 1,800 meters elevation, as The Paper reported from an official press conference.
The impact was devastating. Approximately 0.7 square kilometers and 27 buildings—including the border inspection facility—were leveled at the port. Eyewitness Wang Yuan described the mudslide as “extremely fast and dangerous,” according to Xinmin Weekly via NetEase.
Cross-Border Catastrophe
This is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the region since the 2015 Nepal earthquake. The same event caused severe flooding in Nepal, with BBC Chinese reporting that hundreds of foreign tourists from at least 28 countries are among the missing. On the Chinese side, approximately 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries are among the 546 missing.
Chinese tourists who narrowly escaped the disaster shared harrowing accounts. One traveler, identified as “Hao Yun Changchang,” told Xinmin Weekly that the road from Nepal was extremely dangerous, saying, “The road was too dangerous. After we traveled it, we wanted to advise others not to enter by land. We never expected such a disaster to happen the next day.” Another tourist, “Jidi,” who changed her travel plans, said, “Watching the scenes of flash floods and mudslides felt surreal. Only then did I realize that by changing our plans, we likely escaped disaster.”
Scientific Explanation
Scientists have identified the cause as climate change-induced glacier instability. Researchers from the CAS Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment confirmed through satellite data that the collapse of the glacier terminus upstream triggered the downstream mudslide, as reported by Sohu.
Researcher Ouyang Chaojun explained the extreme destructive power: “The initiating ice-rock avalanche was large in scale and high in position, with enormous initial kinetic energy. During rapid descent, it transformed into an extremely fluid mudslide that continuously eroded loose material from rock layers, maintaining very high speeds of 40-50 meters per second with enormous impact force.”
The disaster occurred without significant precipitation, leading scientists to attribute it to long-term glacier instability exacerbated by climate change. The USGS initially recorded a seismic event but later determined it was caused by the glacier collapse and debris flow rather than an earthquake.
Dammed Lakes Pose Ongoing Risk
Two dammed lakes have been identified, creating significant secondary risks. The first, located at the confluence of the Cuojian River and Purepuqiang Zangbu River, holds approximately 2.5 million cubic meters of water—equivalent to two West Lakes. A second, newly identified dammed lake sits approximately 5 kilometers upstream near the glacier collapse source area.
Professor Wu Lixin of Central South University warned about the second lake’s danger, as reported by China Newsweek via Phoenix: “This dammed lake currently doesn’t have much water (estimated average depth less than 10m), but it’s at a high position with great potential energy. If it breaches, it would have a major impact on the dammed lake below.”
As of August 30, the main dammed lake has overflowed and is draining, with the overall risk of complete breach considered low. China Anneng has deployed slope radar and drones for 24-hour monitoring.
Massive Rescue Operation
Over 2,141 rescue personnel have been mobilized, including PLA Tibet Military Command forces, fire rescue teams, and specialized engineering units. The operation faces formidable challenges: the impact zone spans 20 kilometers with a 3,300-meter vertical drop, making search efforts like “finding a needle in a haystack.” Both main roads to Jilong Port were destroyed, and narrow rescue corridors—some only 3 meters wide—limit equipment access. Complex mountain weather with strong crosswinds and low visibility has also constrained aerial operations.
Premier Li Qiang visited the disaster area on August 27 on behalf of President Xi Jinping, who issued instructions emphasizing the need to “spare no effort” in searching for missing persons. The central government has allocated 1.2 billion yuan for disaster relief, and 555 tourists have been evacuated from Jilong Town with no one left stranded.
International Response
Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah expressed that “the whole nation is shocked and deeply saddened,” according to BBC Chinese. India’s Bihar state began precautionary evacuations in six districts against potential flooding. South Korea reported 9 missing citizens working on a hydroelectric project, while a family of five from Osaka, Japan, remains unaccounted for. The UN Secretary-General expressed grief over the casualties.
Looking Ahead
As search operations continue, authorities face the dual challenge of locating survivors while managing the ongoing risk of secondary disasters. Experts warn that continued monitoring of glacier stability and dammed lake conditions is essential. The disaster underscores the growing threat of climate change-induced glacial hazards in high mountain regions, a concern that extends far beyond the China-Nepal border. Scientists will continue assessing regional glacier and slope stability to prevent future catastrophes.