Nearly two weeks after devastating floods struck the China-Nepal border, families in Tibet are turning to social media to search for missing loved ones and share their grief, amid the absence of an official public list of those missing.
Families search for answers online
The floods, triggered by a glacier collapse on August 26, swept through the Gyirong border area, leaving extensive destruction and hundreds of people unaccounted for. Chinese authorities said on Sunday that 43 people had died and 519 remained missing in Tibet.
With limited information available, internet users have compiled unofficial lists of missing people using names and details shared by families. Others have posted photographs and appeals on social media, hoping someone who was in the affected area might recognise their relatives.
‘Mama, I miss you’
Among the most painful messages is one from a child who repeatedly urged her missing mother to return home. After sending messages asking her mother to call, the girl eventually wrote: “Mama, I miss you.” There was no reply.
Other families have travelled towards Gyirong in search of relatives, while some have searched for belongings that might provide evidence of what happened.
Uncertainty deepens families’ grief
The lack of a comprehensive public list has left relatives relying on unofficial information as rescue and identification efforts continue. Chinese officials have said specialists are using fingerprints and genetic data to identify recovered bodies.
The disaster has killed more than 1,000 people across Nepal and Tibet, with Nepal reporting substantially higher casualties and missing figures. Concerns have also been raised internationally over limited independent access to the affected areas in Tibet.
For families still waiting, however, the numbers offer little comfort. Their immediate hope remains simple — to hear from someone they love, or at least receive the truth about what happened.