China penalises 10 people for misinformation over deadly mudslide near Nepal border

In a crackdown on misinformation, Chinese authorities punished 10 individuals for spreading false online reports regarding a deadly mudslide that occurred near the border with Nepal. The penalties, which could range from fines to up to 10 days in detention, were announced amid ongoing search operations to locate hundreds of people missing in the affected regions.

The misleading claims, according to a statement from China’s Ministry of Public Security, alleged that the number of fatalities was significantly higher than the official reports. One individual, Qiu, falsely claimed that "the news reports 1,400 fatalities, but in reality 3,000 people had previously been reported missing". Another person, Liu, suggested that over 3,000 people had died as a result of the mudslide in China.

The floods have claimed at least 903 lives in Nepal, where 4,247 individuals remain missing. In the Chinese-administered Tibet region, 16 have died and 546 are listed as missing. After the disaster, authorities deemed the spread of such "malicious smearing and sensationalism" as unproductive, as officials maintained that information sharing regarding the disaster was "open, transparent and timely".

Tibet, largely inaccessible to foreign journalists, has been primarily reported through Chinese state media. Rescuers in the area continue to face challenges, including high-altitude terrain, steep valleys, and volatile weather. Emergency workers in Tibet are working to clear debris, identify hazards, provide disaster relief, and restore routes.

Despite the ongoing challenges, communication has been restored in Gyirong port, while another lake formed by the landslide has naturally overflowed and essentially emptied. President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China's commitment to the search efforts, stating that the country is making every effort to locate those missing on its side of the border.