Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a spot information alert urging caution regarding damage on the Chinese side as well, in connection with the large-scale flooding and landslide disaster in central Nepal.
On August 26, major flooding and mudslides occurred along the Bhotekoshi River (Trishuli River), which flows through Nepal’s Rasuwa, Dhading, and Chitwan districts and surrounding areas. Severe damage, including disruptions to transportation and telecommunications networks, has also occurred in affected areas on the Chinese side, including Shigatse City (Xigazê) in the Tibet Autonomous Region, which borders Nepal. In particular, there have been numerous casualties and missing persons, including foreign nationals, at the Kyirong checkpoint in Shigatse City, Tibet Autonomous Region, while surrounding roads and communications remain cut off.
As of September 2, the Chinese government reported 21 deaths and 541 missing persons. It stated that the risk of secondary disasters, including landslides and rockfalls, has not been fully eliminated and remains present. Authorities have therefore restricted access to the Kyirong checkpoint to emergency and support vehicles only, suspended the issuance of electronic travel permits for Shigatse City in the Tibet Autonomous Region, and prohibited entry into disaster-stricken areas.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urging people making short-term trips to the area to obtain the latest information on weather, flooding, transportation, and communications, take steps to ensure their own safety, and avoid approaching affected locations. It is also asking those planning to travel to areas near the disaster zone in the near future to reassess whether their travel is truly necessary in light of the damage situation at their destination.
In addition, the ministry is encouraging travelers to register with the Tabireji overseas travel registration service and, for stays of three months or longer, to submit a notification of residence. Those affected by the disaster or in need of assistance are advised to contact the Embassy of Japan in China or the Consular Affairs Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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This article was generated using automatic translation by GPT-4 API. The translation may not be accurate.
