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China has allowed a small group of foreign journalists to enter the flood-hit Gyirong County in Tibet for the first time since devastating floods and landslides struck the China-Nepal border on August 26.
The organised media visit includes journalists from several international outlets, including CNA, and comes amid growing criticism over Beijing’s restrictions on independent reporting from the disaster zone.
The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse, severely damaged the Gyirong border area and caused heavy casualties on both sides of the border.
China’s latest figures put the death toll in Tibet at 31, with 531 people still missing.
Foreign journalists had previously been denied access to the affected areas, with Chinese authorities citing security and difficult access conditions.
Most information about the disaster on the Chinese side had therefore come through state-controlled media.
The decision to allow selected foreign media into the area could provide a clearer picture of the extent of the devastation and ongoing rescue operations.
However, questions remain over the broader restrictions on independent reporting and access to the disaster zone.
