Fresh flood threat hampers rescue of 558 missing in Tibet
BEIJING: Risks of renewed flooding, heavy rain and roads covered in mud are complicating the search for hundreds of people missing in Tibet, two days after a deadly mudslide struck the China-Nepal border.
Heavy rain and mudslides are making rescue efforts difficult in Tibet, where 558 people remain missing two days after a deadly landslide. Rescuers finally reached the worst-hit area in Tibet on Friday, more than 50 hours after the disaster struck the border town of Gyirong. The death toll has risen to five in Tibet, with 558 people still unaccounted for.
Chinese officials have warned of significant challenges in the rescue operation due to the ongoing risk of secondary disasters, including flooding from a rapidly forming ice lake. This lake was formed after the initial mudslide and its overflow could cause further severe flooding. Rescue operations were temporarily halted due to this risk, but later resumed as water levels began to recede.
The roads leading to the disaster site are buried under mud, with some areas submerged up to three kilometers from the border. Rescue workers have had to clear thick mud deposits to access the main site. Communication was down at the worst-hit location on Friday, making coordination difficult.
Heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms are expected in the region through Monday, potentially exacerbating the rescue effort. Local authorities have warned that continuous rain could lead to flash floods and additional mudslides. As of Friday, 499 Chinese nationals and 555 foreigners had been evacuated from the disaster zone.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
