Nepal and China resume flood rescue after lake threat eases, death toll nears 600
Rescue operations in Nepal and China have resumed following a brief suspension due to the threat of an overflowing glacial lake. The disaster, caused by a glacier collapse, has resulted in nearly 600 deaths and thousands of missing persons across the Himalayan region.
Why it matters
The event underscores the increasing vulnerability of mountain communities to climate-related geological disasters and the complexities of cross-border disaster management.
Nepal and China resumed rescue operations that had been suspended briefly in the flood-hit Himalayas after risks from an overflowing lake were found to be manageable, easing fears of fresh devastation.
A glacier collapse on Wednesday unleashed a huge torrent of rock, ice, mud and debris through Himalayan mountain river systems, killing at least 579 people in Nepal and five in China's Tibet.
The number missing in Nepal has nearly doubled to 1924, the country's disaster authority said on Friday. At least 558 were missing in Tibet's Gyirong County, including 260 foreign nationals , Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on Thursday.
More than 90,000 people are estimated to have been affected by the disaster , the Red Cross said.
The flooding led to the formation of a lake, which on Friday began overflowing into the Lhende Khola and Trishuli rivers.
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