China penalizes ten online users for alleged false reports on Tibet mudslide

The Chinese Communist Party confirmed that ten people have been subjected to administrative penalties over the past week for allegedly circulating online rumors about the mudslide and flooding in Tibet. According to one outlet, cybersecurity police processed these cases, which included a user named Qiu who posted unverified figures suggesting far higher death and missing-person counts than official reports. Beijing argues that such speculation undermines rescue efforts and calls it disinformation.

Critics say the government is censoring graphic footage of the disaster, which has killed over 900 people in Nepal and left thousands missing, while China reports only 16 deaths and 546 missing. Representatives from the Australia Tibet Council and the International Campaign for Tibet accused Beijing of downplaying the scale of the tragedy. The Chinese foreign ministry defended its handling, claiming openness, timely information release, and continued support for Nepal’s relief work.