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Dramatic CCTV footage has captured the terrifying moment a massive landslide and flash flood swept through the Gyirong Port along the China-Nepal border in Tibet on Wednesday. The visuals show a huge surge of mud, water and debris rushing through the border crossing, forcing people to run for their lives as roads and buildings were engulfed within moments.

The landslide struck Gyirong county at around 10:30 am local time, with the debris reportedly originating on the Nepalese side before reaching the key crossing point in China. Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported “major casualties” and said several people were missing.

The CCTV footage shows floodwaters rapidly spreading across the port, carrying large amounts of debris and inundating parts of the infrastructure. People can be seen scrambling to reach safer areas as the situation unfolds.

The disaster severely disrupted the border crossing, with roads leading to the checkpoint shut for seven days as rescue operations continued. Roads were damaged, while power and communication services were also disrupted on the Chinese side.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed authorities to launch an “all-out” search and rescue operation and make every effort to locate those who remain missing.

The impact was also severe on the Nepal side of the border, where flash floods damaged villages, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.

According to Nepal’s Tourism Board, 384 travellers were initially reported missing, including 291 foreign nationals. At least 105 Indians were among those reported unaccounted for in the initial figures.

Meanwhile, Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah said the government has mobilised all available resources following the flash floods in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa. In a Facebook post, Shah said more than 50 people were feared dead and said the Nepali Army and other security forces had been deployed for search and rescue operations.

Shah said more than 250 people had so far been rescued by the Nepali Army using helicopters, while those injured were shifted to Kathmandu for treatment. He added that 100 beds had been reserved at Bir Hospital and the National Trauma Centre for free treatment of those affected, with other hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley also kept on standby.

The Prime Minister said the government’s immediate priorities were rescuing those stranded, locating missing people and providing medical assistance, food, clean water and temporary accommodation to affected families. Rescue and relief operations were expected to continue through the night, he said.

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