China-Nepal disaster death toll nears 500 as lake overflow threatens rescue work

The death toll from catastrophic flash floods and mudslides at the Gyirong Port border crossing between China and Nepal has neared 500 as concerns grow over a newly formed barrier lake. As of Friday morning, 558 people were confirmed dead and 469 missing on the Chinese side, while 644 were missing in Nepal. The disaster unfolded on Wednesday morning when a massive Himalayan landslide triggered a fast-moving debris flow that swept down from the border area, leaving widespread devastation in its wake.

Satellite images revealed the full scale of the destruction, with the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge washed away and extensive mud and debris burying the checkpoint at Gyirong county in Shigatse city and its surrounding residential areas. Concerns are rising over the barrier lake, which has begun to overflow, forcing a temporary pause in ground rescue operations.

China's National Immigration Administration has suspended issuing electronic border-management permits for travel to Shigatse, advising existing permit holders against travelling to the area.

Brief written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.