Kathmandu, August 27
China’s Ambassador to Nepal, Zhang Maoming, has said preliminary information indicates that the devastating flood and landslide in Rasuwa were caused by an earthquake on the Nepali side.
The ambassador made the remarks in an interview with Nepal’s state television, NTV World.
According to details released by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, China has expressed deep condolences to the Nepal government and people, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the disaster.
Ambassador Zhang said preliminary information available so far shows that an earthquake struck the Nepal side on the morning of the disaster. The earthquake triggered a snow/rock avalanche, followed immediately by a flood carrying debris and mud. He said this natural event caused major human losses on both the Nepal and China sides of the Kerung–Rasuwagadhi border area, with many people reported missing.
Three areas of future cooperation
Ambassador Zhang pointed to three key areas where Nepal and China could cooperate to reduce the impact of such disasters in the future: information sharing and early warning, coordination in emergency rescue, and capacity building.
He said monitoring and early-warning systems for meteorological, hydrological, and geological hazards need to be strengthened, and that the cross-border disaster information exchange mechanism should be improved. He emphasised the need to strengthen communication and institutional development for coordinated response and rescue cooperation during disasters. He also said work should focus on staff training, technical knowledge exchange, and increased emergency supply support to build local-level disaster prevention and mitigation capacity.
Ambassador Zhang praised the resilience and response efforts shown by the Nepal government and people during this crisis. As a close neighbour connected by mountains and rivers, he reiterated China’s commitment to providing all possible support to Nepal to protect the lives and property of citizens of both countries.
