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Tibet landslide death toll climbs to 804 as search continues

Rescue operations in Tibet are hampered by challenging conditions as authorities report nearly 3,300 people missing following successive landslides. Identification efforts are complicated by the state of remains discovered beneath thick mud and water deposits.

LSN Malaysia · 31 August 2026

Tibet landslide death toll climbs to 804 as search continues

The death toll from a series of devastating landslides in Tibet has reached 804, with rescue teams continuing search operations across affected areas. The Chinese regional authorities reported that nearly 3,300 people remain missing, though the exact final count may shift as recovery efforts progress in the mountainous terrain.

Rescue teams face significant obstacles in their work, including treacherous weather conditions and the challenging geography of the affected region. Recovery efforts have been further complicated by the discovery of partial or severed remains, which has slowed victim identification processes. Many bodies are believed to remain buried under substantial accumulations of mud and water that have persisted for days following the initial disasters.

The incidents have prompted a major mobilisation of rescue resources across the region. Authorities have deployed teams equipped for both search and recovery operations, though progress has been constrained by the unpredictable terrain and ongoing environmental hazards. Officials have indicated that final casualty figures may take time to confirm as identification work continues.

The landslides underscore the vulnerability of mountainous communities in Tibet to natural disasters, particularly during weather patterns that trigger geological instability. Regional authorities are expected to conduct investigations into the causes and contributing factors once immediate rescue operations conclude.