Published : 27 Aug 2026, 11:04 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:36 AM
China has rejected Nepal's claim that the collapse of a "geological disaster dam" on the Chinese side of the border triggered the massive devastation caused by floods in Nepal.
The Chinese Embassy in Nepal described the claim as "fake news" on Thursday, while also rejecting an allegation that China had failed to issue an early warning to Nepal, resulting in significant casualties, the Times of India reported.
In statements posted on Facebook and X, the embassy said the disaster originated on the Nepali side of the border.
"An earthquake or earthquake-like glacier collapse occurred on the Nepal side on the morning of August 26, triggering huge mudslides, which caused significant casualties and left people missing on both the Nepali and Chinese sides of the Gyirong-Rasuwagadhi border region," it said.
The statement comes after a massive flash flood hit Nepal's Rasuwa area on Wednesday, killing at least eight people, damaging infrastructure and leaving hundreds of foreign nationals reported missing.
Nepali authorities have been investigating the cause of the sudden surge of water through the Bhote Koshi River. Earlier reports suggested that the flooding may have been triggered by a glacier-related event on the Tibetan side, although the exact cause remained unclear.
The Chinese Embassy rejected that account and maintained that the event originated in Nepal.
It also dismissed the suggestion that China had failed to provide an early warning to the Nepali side.
The embassy ended its response with the messages: "Accusation helps nothing" and "cooperation saves lives."
The disaster affected areas around the Gyirong-Rasuwagadhi border region, which links Nepal and China, with casualties and missing people reported on both sides.
