Is China censoring Tibet flood footage from broadcasts? Here is why videos are vanishing
Security camera footage capturing the Tibet flood and the desperate attempts of people to escape the deluge quickly disappeared from the internet in China, highlighting Beijing's extensive media censorship practices
A glacier burst in Tibet led to catastrophic floods, with reported censorship of footage and limited information from Chinese authorities compared to Nepal's detailed reporting. The disaster highlights the challenges in accessing comprehensive information during major events in restricted regions.
A glacier burst in Tibet led to catastrophic floods, with reported censorship of footage and limited information from Chinese authorities compared to Nepal's detailed reporting. The disaster highlights the challenges in accessing comprehensive information during major events in restricted regions.
A glacier burst in Tibet led to catastrophic floods, with reported censorship of footage and limited information from Chinese authorities compared to Nepal's detailed reporting. The disaster highlights the challenges in accessing comprehensive information during major events in restricted regions.
Security camera footage of the catastrophic floods in the Tibet region that emerged on the internet reportedly disappeared from the internet in China as soon as it was posted online.
The video showed a China-controlled Tibet border crossing into Nepal being completely washed off by a wave of ice, mud, and water as people attempted to run for their lives.
The deluge occurred after a glacier burst in the mountains.
Beijing is known to heavily censor media and only distribute state-approved broadcasts in the country.
While the death toll reports in Nepal offered a detailed breakdown of the number of deaths in each region, including of foreign nationals, Chinese authorities only provided a very narrow number of missing persons. On Saturday, the Chinese state media confirmed that 7 people were confirmed dead and that 554 were missing after Gyirong port in Tibet was flooded.
They also said that two villagers were rescued. Beyond this, there was no region-wise or other demographic breakdown provided.
Journalists noted that most of the state-approved footage only covers rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
They also did not provide any specific information about the settlements and villages in the areas that were affected.
There is also reportedly very little information from Tibet, where the flood started, as China has restricted foreign journalists from travelling to the region.
In Nepal meanwhile, reporters have been able to freely travel and speak to survivors and gather information from the ground.
The lack of information from Tibet also means that there is not much known of the glacier collapse that triggered the floods. It also prevents citizens from accessing information about their own family and communities.
Australian broadcaster ABC News said that one person in China sought information about a construction site near where the disaster struck, as they had a relative working there.
They were left shocked when they were told by foreigners that the entire site had been flattened.