https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/322936/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Bernard Chan Bernard Chan The Himalayan disaster that tore through the China-Nepal border last month was a human calamity before it became a media story. A torrent of ice, rock, mud and debris swept through valleys, destroying key infrastructure, severing roads and communications, and leaving families desperate for news. In Gyirong county in the Tibet autonomous region, the disaster hit a major border crossing and created a rescue environment as physically difficult as any imaginable. The human toll extends beyond the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3367709/what-china-nepal-floods-teach-us-about-crisis-communication?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3367709/what-china-nepal-floods-teach-us-about-crisis-communication?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 21:30:04 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse For 10 days, Nepali hydropower worker Sanjay Sah survived in darkness inside a flooded tunnel, drinking muddy water and losing all sense of time as he desperately prayed for rescue. When a disaster response team finally pulled him to safety on September 4, Sah’s first question showed how deeply the ordeal had disoriented him. “When I was rescued I first asked, how many days has it been?” Sah, aged 30, said in an interview, while on his way back home in Saptari district on Sunday. “He said that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3367346/nepal-flood-survivor-says-rescue-efforts-must-continue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3367346/nepal-flood-survivor-says-rescue-efforts-must-continue?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 08:56:30 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A Chinese influencer faced widespread criticism after a purported donation of 1 million yuan (US$150,000) to flood relief efforts was allegedly revealed as fabricated. Since July, typhoon-induced torrential rains have ravaged the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in southern China, resulting in the deaths of 159 people, according to local reports. On September 7, internet users accused a RedNote influencer known as Anlan of fabricating a donation record for flood relief in Guangxi, sharing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3367330/china-influencer-exposed-over-fake-us150000-flood-gift-red-cross-finds-only-15-cent-offers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3367330/china-influencer-exposed-over-fake-us150000-flood-gift-red-cross-finds-only-15-cent-offers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 01:23:12 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma In north China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, home to the country’s largest coal reserves, a vast open-pit mine cuts deep into the earth, shrouded in clouds of dust. Winters here are long and brutal, with temperatures plunging to as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit). In older, more traditional days, hundreds of truck drivers, bundled in heavy winter gear, had to brave icy roads and the risk of frostbite as they hauled loads through the pit. When dense fog and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367195/no-pit-stops-chinese-coal-mine-makes-big-upgrade-autonomous-electric-trucks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367195/no-pit-stops-chinese-coal-mine-makes-big-upgrade-autonomous-electric-trucks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan,William Zheng Cao Jiaxuan,William Zheng Twenty-five people were killed after a fire broke out on Thursday morning aboard a foreign-flagged cargo ship at China’s eastern port of Qingdao. The vessel with 42 people on board was undergoing repairs at the state-owned Qingdao Beihai shipyard, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The blaze, which started at around 11.15am, was put out by 2.30pm, the report said. Twelve people were evacuated safely while five others had to be hospitalised. President Xi Jinping earlier gave orders to step up... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367049/heavy-casualties-after-foreign-cargo-ship-catches-fire-chinas-qingdao?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3367049/heavy-casualties-after-foreign-cargo-ship-catches-fire-chinas-qingdao?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:14:37 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen “I do not want to stop [searching]. If I pause, I start thinking about my brothers and sisters and all the moments of my life here.” Gui Xinwei, deputy chief of the Gyirong Border Inspection Station, was speaking to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV from the ruins of his workplace, seven days after the devastating mudslide erased the port crossing where China and Nepal meet. “I just don’t want to stop.” Gui was away on holiday on August 26 when a glacier collapsed in Nepal, triggering a massive... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366706/gyirong-port-small-items-speak-human-cost-china-nepal-disaster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366706/gyirong-port-small-items-speak-human-cost-china-nepal-disaster?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 03:13:40 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan The tragic death of a junior Chinese customs officer on the Sino-Nepal border, who had only been in her position for four days before being killed in a catastrophic mudslide, has stirred immense heartbreak online. Twenty-four-year-old Li Leiyang began her role as a plant quarantine officer at the Customs at Gyirong Port in Tibet on August 21, according to a report by news portal 163.com. On August 26, while Li was working at her desk, a glacier collapsed in Nepal, triggering a mudslide and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/environment/article/3366513/junior-chinese-customs-officer-killed-mudslide-just-4-days-job-deeply-moves-public?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/environment/article/3366513/junior-chinese-customs-officer-killed-mudslide-just-4-days-job-deeply-moves-public?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 02:14:35 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng At least one person was killed and 11 are missing after they were buried by a landslide in central China as the region continued to battle severe flooding caused by Typhoon Saudel. The landslide hit Gaoping, a town in a mountainous area of Jiangxi province, at around 4am on Saturday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. It said rescue teams were rushing to the disaster site. The accident followed days of torrential rain brought by the outer bands of Typhoon Saudel and a cold front. Floodwaters... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366459/typhoon-saudel-days-flooding-trigger-fatal-landslide-central-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366459/typhoon-saudel-days-flooding-trigger-fatal-landslide-central-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:44:34 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Cross-border disasters along China’s frontiers are putting Beijing’s neighbourhood diplomacy to the test as climate shocks grow and expose strategic vulnerabilities. The stakes were highlighted last week after a sudden glacial collapse in the Himalayas unleashed a torrent of mud and flooding that ravaged nearby villages and the Gyirong Port between China and Nepal, leaving more than 1,250 dead in Nepal and 21 dead in the Tibet autonomous region. Thousands also remain missing. Beyond the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366345/how-natural-disasters-are-putting-chinas-neighbourhood-diplomacy-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366345/how-natural-disasters-are-putting-chinas-neighbourhood-diplomacy-test?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:00:07 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau are likely to become more unstable, which may lead to more collapses and collateral disasters, a senior climate official warns as the death toll from last week’s catastrophic landslide and flood on the China-Nepal border continues to rise. “Over the past 60 years, the glacier area on the Tibetan Plateau has shrunk by around 24 per cent, with around 7,000 small glaciers disappearing completely,” Gao Rong, deputy director of China’s National Climate Centre, said on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3366180/unstable-tibetan-plateau-risks-cascading-disasters-glacier-losses-mount-nepal-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3366180/unstable-tibetan-plateau-risks-cascading-disasters-glacier-losses-mount-nepal-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Sep 2026 03:56:19 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen A Boeing 747-8 operated by Air China reportedly suffered a fuel leak at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport early on Monday, forcing the cancellation of the flight. No injuries were reported in or around the aircraft, which was expected to operate flight CA982 from New York to Beijing that day. The leak is said to have occurred between 1am and 2am while the plane was parked at the gate, according to posts on Chinese social media. It was being refuelled when the fuel truck moved... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366093/air-china-boeing-747-grounded-new-york-following-gate-refuelling-incident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366093/air-china-boeing-747-grounded-new-york-following-gate-refuelling-incident?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:15:53 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Not even the world’s fastest sprinters could have outrun the devastating floodwaters that struck a border crossing between China and Nepal last week, according to one of the first peer-reviewed assessments of the disaster. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) calculated that the surface velocity of the debris flow was 19 metres per second (62 feet per second) when it struck the checkpoint at Gyirong Port in Tibet. This is almost twice Usain Bolt’s average speed when he set the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3366020/china-nepal-floods-first-research-shows-no-one-could-have-outrun-debris-flow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3366020/china-nepal-floods-first-research-shows-no-one-could-have-outrun-debris-flow?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:00:13 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Residents and rescuers in the Tibet autonomous region paused for three minutes on Tuesday morning to remember the victims of last week’s mudslide disaster. Sirens sounded for three minutes from 9.55am at the Gyirong Port police station, with similar memorials at rescue and road-reopening sites throughout the region, according to state broadcaster CCTV. More than 1,000 people died and thousands remain missing along the China-Nepal border area after a glacier collapsed at Langtang Lirung on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366006/glacier-risk-hangs-over-china-nepal-border-region-remembers-mudslide-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3366006/glacier-risk-hangs-over-china-nepal-border-region-remembers-mudslide-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:36:05 +0000 Cannix Yau,Leopold Chen Cannix Yau,Leopold Chen Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing and his business empire, along with Henderson Land Development and the Lee Shau Kee Foundation, have pledged 15 million yuan (US$2.2 million) each to support relief efforts for victims of the deadly flash flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border. Nina Wang Charity Management also pledged HK$10 million (US$1.27 million) to support relief efforts. CK Asset Holdings, CK Hutchison Holdings and the Li Ka Shing Foundation, as well as Henderson Land and the Lee Shau Kee... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365991/ck-hutchison-henderson-land-donate-15-million-yuan-each-nepal-tibet-flood-relief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365991/ck-hutchison-henderson-land-donate-15-million-yuan-each-nepal-tibet-flood-relief?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:57:01 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Parts of eastern and southern China are bracing for heavy to torrential rain over the next three days, with authorities warning of floods, landslides and mudslides, as Typhoon Saudel re-forms over the South China Sea. Several airports could be affected, including Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Baoan, Zhuhai Jinwan, Xiamen Gaoqi, Fuzhou Changle, Wenzhou Longwan, Ningbo Lishe and Hong Kong International Airport, according to aviation data platform VariFlight. So far, no large-scale flight... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365946/unprecedented-path-revived-typhoon-saudel-eyes-eastern-and-southern-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365946/unprecedented-path-revived-typhoon-saudel-eyes-eastern-and-southern-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:00:10 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen China warned on Monday there was a “major risk” of further glacier collapses and landslides along the border with Nepal as the death toll from last week’s deadly mudslide rose to close to 1,000. The Ministry of Water Resources said there was an ongoing threat along the Cuojian River in Nepal, a waterway that flows into the Purepuqiang River in Tibet, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. Downstream in Tibet there was also a risk that further landslides would cause a new barrier lake to form,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365810/rescue-work-intensifies-death-toll-china-nepal-disaster-approaches-1000?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365810/rescue-work-intensifies-death-toll-china-nepal-disaster-approaches-1000?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Aug 2026 06:05:26 +0000 Narayan Adhikari Narayan Adhikari As the waters of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers recede, leaving behind mud, debris and damaged infrastructure, a familiar pattern is visible in Nepal. When disaster strikes, the country’s usual political divisions, cronyism and institutional mistrust give way, for a while, to real unity. Across party lines, political leaders worked around the clock alongside security forces. Digital channels opened for the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund, a “one-door policy” was enforced to prevent... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3365734/behind-nepal-china-border-floods-lie-bad-politics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3365734/behind-nepal-china-border-floods-lie-bad-politics?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Aug 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Xinlu Liang,Shi Huang Xinlu Liang,Shi Huang China said on Sunday that 261 foreign citizens were missing after last week’s deadly floods along the border between its Tibet autonomous region and Nepal. The missing foreigners were from 23 different countries and included 104 Nepalese citizens, authorities in Tibet’s Gyirong county told reporters. Also unaccounted for are 49 people from India; 33 Latvians; 18 from the United States; 15 from Britain; six each from Canada and Australia; four from South Africa; three each from Malaysia, Germany... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365730/china-nepal-floods-hundreds-foreigners-missing-tibet-after-disaster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365730/china-nepal-floods-hundreds-foreigners-missing-tibet-after-disaster?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:31:37 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Video footage taken moments before a catastrophic mudslide hit a border post in Tibet this week shows how one police officer stationed there tried to guide civilians to safety. The clip, which shows the officer trying to direct people away from the police station at Gyirong Port, went viral online in China over the weekend. State broadcaster CCTV said the officer, whom it named as Huang Peng, also rushed into a nearby tourist service centre to tell those inside to evacuate. The 34-year-old, who... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365701/china-nepal-floods-police-officer-filmed-guiding-people-away-stricken-border-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365701/china-nepal-floods-police-officer-filmed-guiding-people-away-stricken-border-post?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Aug 2026 10:00:12 +0000 Laura Zhou,Carol Yang Laura Zhou,Carol Yang China has sent nine specialist tunnel rescuers to Nepal to help with emergency operations following a direct request from Kathmandu, as search teams race against time to find survivors from Wednesday’s devastating floods. Seven people have been confirmed dead on the Chinese side, with 544 still missing as the rescue operation passed a critical 72-hour window. In Nepal, at least 675 have died and nearly 2,500 – hundreds of them foreigners – are missing. Five of the Chinese tunnel experts were... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365686/china-nepal-floods-rescuers-pull-2-survivors-out-rubble-near-tibet-border-crossing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365686/china-nepal-floods-rescuers-pull-2-survivors-out-rubble-near-tibet-border-crossing?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Aug 2026 04:47:24 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The human catastrophe resulting from the flash flood and mudslide on the Nepal-China border continues to unfold. The search for answers has already begun. But the safety of survivors, rescue of victims and relief operations are paramount. President Xi Jinping’s directives to emergency responders and dispatch of Premier Li Qiang to the border to oversee operations are evidence of that. The immediate cause of the disaster remains the subject of debate. But there seems little doubt of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3365608/china-nepal-border-flash-flood-must-galvanise-climate-change-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3365608/china-nepal-border-flash-flood-must-galvanise-climate-change-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang On the windswept plains just south of Tibet’s second-largest city, the towering smart inspection systems and automated cargo gantries of a brand-new international land port gleam under the plateau’s high-altitude sun. Official road maps predict the multibillion-yuan project in Shigatse will process up to 300 trucks daily by the end of 2030 – loading cargo off trains and onto the trucks that will take goods to their final destination. It will also allow the authorities to carry out customs checks... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365622/can-beijings-gateway-plan-tibet-survive-geopolitics-and-natural-disasters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365622/can-beijings-gateway-plan-tibet-survive-geopolitics-and-natural-disasters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Rescuers pulled out survivors caked in dark brown mud and helicopters lifted stranded people to safety, as Nepal and China raced to respond to catastrophic flash floods that killed 676 people and left nearly 3,000 missing. The rescue efforts included a team that rappelled into a severely damaged checkpoint area on the Chinese side of the border between the two countries. Rescuers were on high alert for more flooding from a new lake that formed high up in the Himalayan mountains after the initial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3365668/china-nepal-floods-rescuers-pull-out-survivors-caked-mud-toll-climbs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3365668/china-nepal-floods-rescuers-pull-out-survivors-caked-mud-toll-climbs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 20:21:45 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang This week’s devastating floods on the China-Nepal border could be a catalyst for joint early-warning systems, particularly in relation to a proposed rail link between the countries. Rescuers were still struggling on Thursday to reach Gyirong Port in the Tibet autonomous region where a mudslide struck a day earlier, following flash floods from Nepal. The port is the region’s main foreign trade gateway, which handles a third of China’s trade with its neighbour. Gyirong is also one end of a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365587/could-china-nepal-disaster-spur-safety-rethink-flagship-rail-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365587/could-china-nepal-disaster-spur-safety-rethink-flagship-rail-project?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Beijing promised to send emergency aid to Nepal on Friday as Chinese rescuers battled through hazardous conditions to reach the border checkpoint hit by deadly flash floods this week. The disaster left five dead and 558 missing in Tibet’s Gyirong county, while Nepal reported 579 dead and 1,924 missing as of 7pm on Friday. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to his Nepalese counterpart, Ram Chandra Paudel, following the devastating mudslides, state broadcaster CCTV... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365583/china-pledges-send-urgent-emergency-aid-nepal-after-deadly-landslide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365583/china-pledges-send-urgent-emergency-aid-nepal-after-deadly-landslide?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 08:30:23 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin Typhoon Saudel made landfall in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang on Friday morning, disrupting flights and ferry services across major urban centres, including the industrial hub of Ningbo and the economic powerhouse of Shanghai. Ningbo Lishe International Airport suspended all flight operations from 11.30pm on Thursday. Even though services resumed at 11am on Friday, some 16 inbound and 28 outbound flights were cancelled for the day. In the Zhejiang city of Wenzhou, a base for private... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365546/storm-travel-chaos-typhoon-saudel-makes-double-landfall-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365546/storm-travel-chaos-typhoon-saudel-makes-double-landfall-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 05:15:41 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez The record heat and extreme weather seen across East Asia this summer have prompted warnings that climate change will be an increasing challenge for military planners focused on potential flashpoints such as the Taiwan Strait. Besides the risks to both troops and equipment, typhoons and other storms could also damage critical infrastructure and disrupt training, as well as divert personnel and resources towards emergency relief. Although militaries may be able to adapt in peacetime, they may... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365406/how-typhoons-and-extreme-weather-could-undermine-taiwan-strait-combat-readiness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365406/how-typhoons-and-extreme-weather-could-undermine-taiwan-strait-combat-readiness?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 04:00:14 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan The death toll from catastrophic flash floods and mudslides at the Gyirong Port border crossing between China and Nepal continued to rise on Friday, as concerns grew that a lake formed from the debris could breach, triggering further flooding. As of Friday afternoon, five people were confirmed dead and 558 missing on the Chinese side of the border, with 469 dead and nearly 1,000 missing in Nepal. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday morning when a massive Himalayan landslide triggered a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365529/china-nepal-disaster-death-toll-nears-500-lake-overflow-threatens-rescue-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365529/china-nepal-disaster-death-toll-nears-500-lake-overflow-threatens-rescue-work?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 03:51:41 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Cao Jiaxuan Alyssa Chen,Cao Jiaxuan The catastrophic flash floods and mudslide that devastated the Gyirong Port crossing along the China-Nepal border on Wednesday have dealt a heavy blow to China-Nepal trade and imperilled Kathmandu’s push to cut reliance on Indian transit routes. However, if Beijing and Kathmandu are to proceed with ambitious infrastructure projects, they are expected to take environmental factors into consideration and adjust their construction methods accordingly, one expert said. Chinese officials confirmed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365486/himalayan-glacier-collapse-hits-crucial-china-nepal-trade-route-casualties-mount?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365486/himalayan-glacier-collapse-hits-crucial-china-nepal-trade-route-casualties-mount?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:30:03 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin The coastal Chinese province of Zhejiang is battening down for the approach of Typhoon Saudel, with flights cancelled across the area. The eastern province is home to a number of major commercial centres, including the industrial hub of Ningbo, the port city of Zhoushan, and Wenzhou. Ningbo Lishe International Airport said flights in and out of the facility would be suspended from 11.30pm on Thursday. In Wenzhou, 90 flights were cancelled, while 22 flights were grounded in Zhoushan. According to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365463/flights-ferries-cancelled-shanghai-and-shenzhen-typhoon-saudel-closes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365463/flights-ferries-cancelled-shanghai-and-shenzhen-typhoon-saudel-closes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Xinlu Liang,Fan Chen,Alyssa Chen Xinlu Liang,Fan Chen,Alyssa Chen Rescue teams struggled to reach the site of a massive Himalayan mudslide and flash flood on the China-Nepal border as the toll from the disaster rose to 392 dead, with more than 1,000 missing. As of Friday morning, three people were confirmed dead and 558 missing on the Chinese side, with 389 dead and at least 644 missing in Nepal. “Nearly 100” Chinese nationals were missing on the Nepalese side, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in Beijing on Thursday. The Chinese embassy in Nepal was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365394/china-nepal-border-disaster-1000-plus-missing-beijing-sends-rescue-teams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365394/china-nepal-border-disaster-1000-plus-missing-beijing-sends-rescue-teams?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:34:35 +0000 Fan Chen,Xinlu Liang Fan Chen,Xinlu Liang Dozens of people were dead and hundreds of others – many of them foreign tourists – were missing on Wednesday night, hours after massive flash floods and landslides engulfed a border area between China and Nepal. Chinese state media reported that the disaster struck Nepal at around 9am, spilling over into Gyirong county in the Tibet autonomous region, causing “major casualties and missing persons” at a border checkpoint in the county, which is administered by the city of Shigatse. Footage... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365346/landslide-china-nepal-border-engulfs-checkpoint-causing-major-casualties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365346/landslide-china-nepal-border-engulfs-checkpoint-causing-major-casualties?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:30:19 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Airports in China’s Zhejiang and Fujian provinces remained on high alert for potential delays and cancellations as Typhoon Saudel approached landfall on Wednesday, after multiple flights were cancelled in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Saudel, which entered the East China Sea early on Wednesday morning, prompted the cancellation of 16 flights at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport. Affected carriers included Peach, China Airlines, EVA Air, Starlux and Thai Lion Air. Hong Kong Airlines fully cancelled... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3365279/chinas-coastal-regions-high-alert-typhoon-saudel-cancels-flights-ferries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3365279/chinas-coastal-regions-high-alert-typhoon-saudel-cancels-flights-ferries?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Aug 2026 04:39:33 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The official death toll from Typhoon Maysak’s devastating floods in southern China jumped from 39 to 159 on Friday, as authorities updated the figures for the first time in six weeks. According to media briefings held in Nanning and Guigang in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, 10 people remained missing and the disaster affected more than 1.65 million people, state news agency Xinhua reported. The typhoon triggered “historically rare, large-scale and persistent heavy rainfall” in the province in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3364814/chinas-typhoon-maysak-death-toll-soars-159-region-tallies-catastrophic-losses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3364814/chinas-typhoon-maysak-death-toll-soars-159-region-tallies-catastrophic-losses?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:12:15 +0000 Emma Ma Emma Ma More than a week after the most powerful typhoon to hit China so far this year made landfall, the ripple effects it sent through the supply chain persist. Typhoon Dolphin, combined with China’s robust export momentum, has left Shanghai’s two major container hubs, Yangshan deep water port and Waigaoqiao container port, grappling with widespread delays. “The delays rank among the worst port disruptions seen over the past decade, with the last comparable disruption in 2021, driven by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364564/shanghai-port-sees-christmas-shipment-delays-twin-typhoons-create-10-day-backlog?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364564/shanghai-port-sees-christmas-shipment-delays-twin-typhoons-create-10-day-backlog?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:30:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang As dark tourism gains traction, some Chinese youth are embracing a related form of experiential travel, paying to confront simulated typhoons, floods, and other disasters while acquiring survival skills. Also referred to as grief tourism, dark tourism involves visiting sites linked to death, catastrophe, and human suffering. Its origins trace back centuries, including connections to 17th century Britain, where public executions often attracted large crowds. This phenomenon has surged across... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/environment/article/3364197/china-dark-tourism-rise-adventurers-brave-simulated-disasters-experience-centres?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/environment/article/3364197/china-dark-tourism-rise-adventurers-brave-simulated-disasters-experience-centres?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Aug 2026 01:00:17 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat The southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen just recorded its wettest July in 31 years, with small businesses and airline passengers feeling the effects. Last month’s deluge was bad news for Yuan Zhang, who runs a small breakfast shop near a subway station in the city. Her monthly profit more than halved as weeks of persistent rain kept customers away. She spent 200,000 yuan (US$27,900) setting up the eatery, which opened last year, and made monthly profits of more than 10,000 yuan last... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364071/south-china-tech-hubs-wet-summer-puts-damper-small-business-profits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364071/south-china-tech-hubs-wet-summer-puts-damper-small-business-profits?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Aug 2026 02:00:49 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration is putting museums nationwide on notice to strengthen emergency management during the summer peak season, following a series of operational failures, including a sudden power outage in Xian’s Terracotta Warriors museum last week. According to the notice published on Monday, there have been issues such as blackouts, air conditioning failures and severe overcrowding at some museums, triggering safety fears and public concern. The disruptions... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3363780/blackout-chinas-terracotta-army-museum-triggers-nationwide-cultural-safety-review?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3363780/blackout-chinas-terracotta-army-museum-triggers-nationwide-cultural-safety-review?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:00:20 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng At a time of year when Beijing’s vegetation should be at its greenest, thousands of trees of various species in a park in the city’s Chaoyang district have withered and died because they were too wet. Beijing Daily, the Chinese capital’s official newspaper, said on Monday that rising groundwater levels might be to blame. Jinzhandian Park, a lush flood-storage wetland park nicknamed Beijing’s “Little Lake Baikal” for its lake and extensive woodlands, has drawn large numbers of visitors since... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3363718/beijings-tree-die-reveals-hidden-risks-rapid-underground-water-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3363718/beijings-tree-die-reveals-hidden-risks-rapid-underground-water-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:30:06 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Residents in Beijing have been warned not to go outside unless it is absolutely necessary as the capital and multiple other cities are on high alert for the arrival of Typhoon Dolphin, which is travelling north. In Beijing, a red rainstorm alert – the second highest – was issued on Monday for a number of districts, with rain expected to continue over the next three days. According to the city’s forecaster, the rain will get increasingly stronger with the most concentrated period expected to be... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3363486/40-flights-grounded-shanghai-long-lived-typhoon-dolphin-moves-north?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3363486/40-flights-grounded-shanghai-long-lived-typhoon-dolphin-moves-north?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2026 04:29:59 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Rescuers continued searching on Sunday for a nine-year-old boy who has been missing since he was swept away by a giant wave in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang. The incident, in the coastal town of Shitang, happened on Friday afternoon – a time when a typhoon warning was already in place as Typhoon Dolphin headed towards the province. Local officials warned that high tides, rapid currents and dangerous whirlpools had made the search efforts very difficult, according to media... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3363450/chinese-boy-9-missing-after-being-swept-away-wave-typhoon-dolphin-approached-coast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3363450/chinese-boy-9-missing-after-being-swept-away-wave-typhoon-dolphin-approached-coast?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Aug 2026 11:47:14 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Typhoon Dolphin made landfall at Yuhuan, a city in Zhejiang province, around 5.30pm on Sunday, with maximum sustained winds of 151km/h (94mph) near its centre, according to China’s National Meteorological Centre. The typhoon is projected to move towards the west and northwest, gradually weakening. Wang Hao, Communist Party secretary of Zhejiang province, stressed on Sunday morning that public safety was the top priority. He urged strict precautions against mountain torrents, mudslides and other... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3363428/red-alert-shanghai-cancels-60-flights-typhoon-dolphin-closes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3363428/red-alert-shanghai-cancels-60-flights-typhoon-dolphin-closes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Aug 2026 05:10:53 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Flights serving eastern China were disrupted on Saturday as Typhoon Dolphin approached the coast, with some services cancelled and airlines offering flexible rebooking and refund options for affected passengers. Most of the typhoon-related flight disruptions have been reported at airports in the cities of Ningbo, Wenzhou, Taizhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai, according to Chinese media. Some travellers also reported receiving notifications that flights to and from Shanghai on Sunday and Monday would... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3363380/typhoon-dolphin-causes-flight-chaos-china-shanghai-set-enter-danger-zone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3363380/typhoon-dolphin-causes-flight-chaos-china-shanghai-set-enter-danger-zone?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Aug 2026 05:04:04 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Ferry routes have been suspended, construction halted, fishermen evacuated and drones deployed to patrol over the sea as China’s coastal provinces prepare for the landfall of Typhoon Dolphin, the fourth typhoon to hit the country this summer. As of Friday morning, Dolphin was about 820km (510 miles) from China’s east coast, the National Meteorological Centre said. It is forecast to make landfall between Zhejiang and Fujian provinces sometime from Sunday afternoon to Monday morning. The centre... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3363262/13-times-size-zhejiang-china-deploys-drones-ai-typhoon-dolphin-nears-coast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3363262/13-times-size-zhejiang-china-deploys-drones-ai-typhoon-dolphin-nears-coast?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Aug 2026 05:53:42 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei A series of failures, including poor maintenance, design and oversight, have been blamed for a deadly explosion at an industrial plant in Baotou in China’s Inner Mongolia region earlier this year. In an official report released on Sunday, the Inner Mongolian emergency management department said the blast at the Baotou Steel Group’s plant that killed 10 people and injured 84 was the result of a leak caused by corrosion on the inner wall of a steam storage pressure vessel. Debris from the blast... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3362707/7-face-arrest-after-inner-mongolia-fatal-blast-report-exposes-string-failings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3362707/7-face-arrest-after-inner-mongolia-fatal-blast-report-exposes-string-failings?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Aug 2026 10:57:59 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China has raised the death toll from last week’s flash floods in the northwestern province of Gansu as large parts of the country continue to battle the impact of heavy rainfall and swollen rivers. State news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday that the death toll in Gansu’s Weiyuan county had risen from 10 to 25 following flash floods on July 26, which had also injured a further 23 people. The National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief had asked the provincial government to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3362695/china-floods-large-parts-country-remain-alert-gansu-province-death-toll-rises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3362695/china-floods-large-parts-country-remain-alert-gansu-province-death-toll-rises?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Aug 2026 06:58:42 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The death toll from a landslide in Chongqing province, southwest China, earlier this month rose to 51, with 10 people still missing, local authorities said late on Thursday night. The landslide, which occurred two weeks ago in Pengshui county, swept away several residential buildings at the foot of a mountain along a riverbank. Quoting the command centre of the rescue effort, state-run news agency Xinhua said that 51 people had been found and confirmed dead, while 10 were still missing. Drone... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3362468/southwest-china-landslide-death-toll-rises-51-search-and-rescue-continues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3362468/southwest-china-landslide-death-toll-rises-51-search-and-rescue-continues?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jul 2026 02:47:36 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on July 29, 1976. Quake rocks Northern China by Staff Reporters Heavy casualties and severe damage to industrial plants and property were feared when the strongest earthquake for 12 years struck the industrial belt of northern Hopei Province early yesterday (July 28, 1976) morning. The tremor was followed by a series of aftershocks and 16 hours after the first quake, an aftershock of almost the same intensity struck the same area, causing further damage and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3362056/1976-earthquake-chinas-tangshan-kills-over-240000-people-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3362056/1976-earthquake-chinas-tangshan-kills-over-240000-people-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jul 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Chinese government has appealed to the public for information as part of its investigation into a reservoir dam that collapsed in southern China earlier this month, causing heavy casualties. State media reported on Monday that the public could call a hotline to submit information related to the collapse of the Liulan Reservoir in Hengzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on July 6. People also have until August 15 to post submissions to an investigation and assessment work group from the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3362062/china-turns-public-help-deadly-dam-collapse-probe-after-typhoon-maysak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3362062/china-turns-public-help-deadly-dam-collapse-probe-after-typhoon-maysak?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jul 2026 03:02:39 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A volunteer from southwestern China tragically died of exhaustion after giving up his holiday to join flood relief efforts in Guangxi. Dang Xinrui, 29, was employed as an integrated control operator at a railway station in Sichuan province, as reported by Guangxi Daily. While holidaying in Yunnan on July 9, Dang encountered an urgent call for volunteers to aid flood-affected areas in Guangxi and swiftly altered his plans to assist. Severe flooding, exacerbated by typhoon-induced rain, swept... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3361909/farewell-hero-chinese-volunteer-dies-heart-failure-after-helping-flood-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3361909/farewell-hero-chinese-volunteer-dies-heart-failure-after-helping-flood-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jul 2026 06:00:08 +0000