China halts Tibet rescue operation over renewed flood risk

China has halted its rescue operations in Tibet due to a renewed flood risk. Hundreds of people are still missing after a deadly mudslide and flash floods swept away entire villages along the remote Himalayan border with Nepal. According to the Free Malaysia Today, over 1,400 people are missing and 392 bodies have been recovered so far.

The disaster was caused by a glacial collapse that triggered a vast flow of icy debris, as reported by the US Geological Survey. The floods and landslides have wiped out towns, buried homes, smashed bridges and dams, and swept away vehicles. Many of the missing are foreign tourists, including trekkers and Hindu pilgrims.

The rescue efforts are being hampered by fears of new floods, as water trapped by the immense piles of debris blocking the valley risks surging out. Chinese authorities have warned of the flood risk, prompting them to pause the rescue operations.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, Punch Nigeria, Free Malaysia Today — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.