Missing toll from Tibet mudslide climbs past 550 as China warns of upstream dangers

BEIJING - The missing persons toll from a devastating mudslide in China's Tibet region has climbed to 558, according to state broadcaster CCTV, as rescue and recovery operations continue across the disaster zone. Among those unaccounted for are 260 foreign nationals, underscoring the international scope of the calamity that struck the remote Himalayan region.

Chinese authorities have escalated warnings about ongoing geological dangers in the area, particularly flagging risks from unstable terrain upstream of the initial disaster site. Officials have indicated that secondary hazards pose continued threats to both rescue personnel and communities in surrounding areas, prompting precautionary measures in the region.

The mudslide, which originated in Nepal before extending into Tibetan territory, has prompted a coordinated response from Chinese emergency services. The scale of the disaster, measured both in human casualties and the extent of geological instability, has made it one of the most significant natural disasters to strike the border region in recent years.

Authorities have not yet provided a comprehensive accounting of confirmed fatalities, with search and rescue operations still underway across difficult terrain. The presence of large numbers of foreign nationals among the missing has drawn international attention to the ongoing relief efforts and recovery operation.