Nepal-Tibet flood deaths pass 500, thousands still missing

Two days after catastrophic flash floods struck the border region between Nepal and China, the death toll has surpassed 500, with thousands still missing in the disaster. Rescue operations were temporarily halted on Friday due to a lake formed by debris threatening already devastated areas, but authorities later said the threat had eased.

The International Red Cross estimates that over 93,000 people have been directly affected, with more than 500 foreigners from 30 countries still unaccounted for. Nepal's death toll has risen to 579, up from 390 the previous day, while China has adjusted its death count to between three and five. Over 2,000 people are still missing, including numerous foreigners.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction warns of potential cascading hazards, and the World Health Organization cautions of increased disease risks due to displacement and disrupted sanitation services. Chinese authorities are deploying an engineering team to survey the lake formed by the disaster, while Nepal insists it does not need foreign assistance for search-and-rescue efforts.