Nepal, China resume flood rescue after lake threat eases, death toll nears 600

Nepal and China have reinitiated rescue efforts in the Himalayas after a temporary suspension due to concerns over an overflowing lake. The recent flooding, triggered by a glacier collapse, has left at least 579 dead in Nepal and five in China's Tibet. The death toll in Nepal has nearly doubled to 1,924, with 558 still missing. In Tibet's Gyirong County, 558 are missing, including 260 foreign nationals.

The flooding led to the formation of a lake, which began overflowing into the Lhende Khola and Trishuli rivers, sparking panic and prompting the suspension of rescue operations for about three hours. Both Nepal and China resumed their rescue operations once the threat eased, with Nepali officials expressing hope of finding survivors.

However, threats from glacial lakes persist, with two barrier lakes upstream of the flood zone continuing to raise concerns. Satellite imagery shows the second lake growing larger with no visible outlet, increasing the risk of water pressure building up. China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported that the first barrier lake is reducing in size, but a Chinese geohazards expert cautioned that the lake could still be unstable, posing a threat alongside over 100 other glacial lakes in the area.

The disaster has affected over 90,000 people, with Nepalese officials monitoring the situation closely as flood risks remain until both lakes fully drain.