China on Tuesday held memorial services for victims of the deadly flash flood that struck Gyirong county in Tibet near the Nepal border last week, as rescue and recovery operations continued in the disaster-hit region.
Memorial services were held at the Gyirong Port branch of the Xigaze Public Security Bureau and at rescue sites, where rescuers, local officials and residents observed a moment of silence in memory of those killed, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The massive flash flood, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche, struck the Gyirong border area on August 26, causing widespread destruction and leaving hundreds of people missing.
The Tibetan provincial government has said 16 people were killed and 546 remained missing.
According to authorities, 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries, including 49 Indians, are among those missing.
The disaster also caused extensive damage on the Nepal side of the border, where search and rescue operations have been intensified.
As of Monday, 939 people had died in Nepal, while around 4,000 remained missing.
PTI
