Ice‑rock Avalanche from Nepal’s Langtang Lirung Glacier Triggers Deadly Mudslide in China’s Xizang Region

On Saturday, August 26, a catastrophic mudslide struck Gyirong Port in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, killing 16 people and leaving 546 others missing. Chinese authorities have determined that the disaster was caused by an ice‑rock avalanche that originated from a glacier on Nepal’s Mount Langtang Lirung.

According to a press conference held by the information office of the Xizang regional government, a glacier on the south slope of Mount Langtang Lirung fractured at an altitude of approximately 5,200 metres, sending a mass of ice and rock tumbling down the mountainside. The avalanche descended rapidly to around 4,000 metres, scouring the slope and transforming into a massive debris flow that travelled roughly 22 kilometres before reaching Gyirong Port at an elevation of about 1,800 metres.

The ensuing disaster flattened roughly 0.7 square kilometres of land, destroyed 27 buildings and associated facilities, and caused widespread damage to the local infrastructure. The Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, through its cryosphere emergency disaster response team, confirmed the cause by analysing remote‑sensing data, field‑transmitted information, and conducting on‑site surveys and investigations.

Su Pengcheng, a researcher with the institute, explained that the event was a consequence of glacier instability driven by long‑term climate warming. He noted that the narrow valley and steep vertical drop where the avalanche began provided the collapsing mass with enormous potential energy. As the material descended, friction and impacts produced significant heat and meltwater, which, together with moraine and loose debris, generated a rapidly expanding debris flow.

According to Su, the debris flow reached Gyirong Port at approximately 10:59 a.m. on August 26, merely six to seven minutes after the initial collapse. The rapid onset, high peak flow, swift velocity, powerful destructive force, and extensive impact area were described as a new and notable feature of cryospheric disasters on the Qinghai‑Tibet Plateau.

In addition to the mudslide, a barrier dam situated above the core area of Gyirong Port has been confirmed as stable and unlikely to experience a sudden, complete breach. Radar monitoring shows the dam has an average height of 60 metres and a length of about 1,100 metres. The reservoir it holds covers roughly 0.1 square kilometres and stores around 2.2 million cubic metres of water. Authorities report that the dam has begun discharging water through overflow and remains generally stable.

Rescue operations have been hampered by the high‑altitude terrain, steep valleys, and volatile weather conditions, while the surrounding area still faces potential risks from glaciers, glacial lakes, and other geological hazards. To date, a total of 2,141 personnel have participated in search and rescue efforts, including members of the People’s Liberation Army, the People’s Armed Police Force, the China Search and Rescue Team, China Anneng, border defence units, and police forces, as stated in the press conference.

The rescue teams have deployed 269 vehicles and 3,922 sets of rescue equipment to the front line, covering a search area of 90,000 square metres. The ongoing operations aim to locate survivors, secure the damaged area, and prevent further hazards to the community.

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