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The disaster sits on the Himalayan border between Nepal and what is historically Tibet. Today that Tibetan side is administered by the People’s Republic of China as part of the TAR (China calls it Xizang). Politically it is Chinese territory now; culturally and historically it is Tibetan land.
The disaster began on Wednesday 26 August when part of a high-altitude glacier collapsed, sending a massive wall of ice, rock, mud, and water down river valleys on both sides of the Nepal–Tibet border, especially around Gyirong and the Trishuli/Lende river system. Entire villages and border facilities were destroyed. Rescue work has been slowed by damaged roads, debris, and fears of further flooding from newly formed barrier lakes.
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