00:00In other topics, 43 people were killed and another 519 remained missing following the collapse of a glacier on the
00:07China-Nepal border.
00:09Our correspondent Bruno Farsi was at the epicenter of the disaster in Tibet and brings us the report.
00:16In one of the most remote and inhospitable areas of Tibet, on August 26, an ice and rock collapse occurred
00:25at an altitude of around 5,200 meters.
00:30On the Nepalese side of the border, from there, the material traveled more than 20 kilometers down the valley before
00:37reaching the Xirong border crossing in China, located at around 1,800 meters above sea level.
00:45The force of the impact left the border crossing wiped off the map.
00:53After the ice and rock collapse, a high-speed debris flow formed.
00:57When it reached an arrow section here in front of us, the energy built up and violently struck the mountain
01:03on the opposite side.
01:05This temporarily created a natural dam, causing the water to back up and rise by approximately 30 to 40 meters.
01:11Eventually, the dam breached and triggered the disaster.
01:15The elevation difference exceeded 3,000 meters, generating an enormous amount of energy.
01:20While international media have questioned China's response, TELESUR was able to see firsthand the scale of the effort deployed on
01:29the ground.
01:30The only road connecting the border area with the rest of the country had to be rebuilt.
01:35Nearly 700 people worked on its recovery, while more than 2,300 rescuers remained mobilized.
01:44After the road was reopened, heavy machinery was able to reach the most affected area.
01:55From the beginning of the emergency, our main mission has been to save lives.
02:00Carrying out rescue operations in a scientific and safe manner.
02:03From the very first moment, we mobilized the personnel and equipment needed to reach the site.
02:08We initially deployed rescue teams and then continued to mobilize specialized teams.
02:12In addition, after the mudslide, there was a risk of secondary disasters.
02:17So we deployed personnel and equipment to deal with these potential threats.
02:21Chinese authorities allowed journalists access to the central area of the disaster.
02:27Eight foreign media outlets, including TELESUR, were able to witness the rescue operations firsthand.
02:33Later, at the Girong County government headquarters, outside the affected area, authorities held a press conference and answered questions from
02:44the media,
02:45demonstrating a high level of transparency toward the international press.
02:53We have made every effort to search for us and rescue every person.
02:57We have also relocated and assisted all those affected, evacuated 555 stranded domestic tourists,
03:05and ensured the basic needs for 1,720 Nepalese border residents.
03:10At the same time, we have carefully verified the identity of every missing person through multiple channels,
03:17including entry and exit records and communication location data.
03:21We have also responded to the concerns of their family.
03:24In reality, the disaster raises a central question, the impact of global warming on high altitude regions.
03:32Nepal and Tibet are among the most vulnerable areas, despite having historical contributed far less to global emissions.
03:41Greater than politicizing a tragedy to attack governments they disagree with,
03:47the press in the global north should ask their own countries,
03:51historically responsible for a large share of these emissions,
03:55what are they doing to protect the population most exposed?
04:00Bruno Fauci, Girong, China, for TELESUR.
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