Nepal-China flood rescue on hold as lake breaks banks
The death toll from the Himalayan flash floods has climbed to 469, with more than 1,000 still missing. Meanwhile, authorities warn an overflowing lake formed by debris could trigger a second wave of flooding.
Rescue operations for the hundreds of people still missing after catastrophic flash floods at the Nepal-China border resumed on Friday, a day after being briefly halted due to a growing lake threatening already devastated areas. The lake, formed by debris, overflowed, prompting authorities to monitor the situation closely. Nepal's Rasuwa district, the most severely affected, saw residents fleeing to higher ground as river levels rose.
The death toll in Nepal rose to 579, up from 390 a day earlier, while China reported a revised death count of three to five in Tibet. Over 2,000 people are still missing, including more than 500 foreigners from 30 countries. The International Red Cross estimated that 93,000 people were directly affected and in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction warned of further cascading hazards, emphasizing that the disaster was not over. The WHO cautioned about the risk of disease due to displacement, overcrowding, and disrupted water, sanitation, and health services. A glacial collapse triggered the disaster, creating a barrier lake upstream with roughly 2 million cubic meters of water.
Chinese engineers plan to survey the lake and build drainage channels, while Nepal does not require foreign assistance for search-and-rescue operations. Foreign countries, including South Korea and India, have offered help, but Nepal has indicated it does not need it.
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