China has resumed its rescue operations in Nepal-Tibet after suspending them due to fears of a second flood
Nepal’s flood death toll has increased to 489, while China has resumed rescue operations following concerns of another flood that led to a temporary halt.
Chinese authorities have restarted rescue operations near the Nepal-Tibet border after a brief pause due to concerns that a newly formed lake might overflow and cause another catastrophic flood.
State media reported that the water that was previously trickling through the lake on the Tibet side has now ceased, enabling rescue teams to return to the affected area.
The development indicates that Nepal’s death toll from Wednesday’s flash floods has risen to 489, as reported by Nepali police, with bodies found in several of the most severely affected districts.
Authorities reported that most of the bodies were found in Chitwan district, where the Trishuli River flows before merging with the Seti Gandaki River. Rasuwa and Nuwakot were also among the most severely impacted regions.
In Tibet, at least three individuals have lost their lives, and over 550 are still unaccounted for, though it remains uncertain if some of these numbers coincide with those reported in Nepal.
Local officials informed the BBC that a collapsed glacier initiated the enormous flood wave, which surged through communities, obliterating homes, roads, and a crucial Nepal-Tibet border crossing.
The disaster has ravaged an area that draws in tens of thousands of visitors annually.
The Nepali government has released the names of 500 foreign nationals who have been reported missing due to the flooding. The list comprises 178 individuals from India, 65 from the United States, and 33 from Britain.
Rescue efforts were halted on the Tibet side after authorities observed increasing water levels in a newly formed lake, which raised alarms about the potential for a breach that could lead to another flood surge.
The recent evaluation indicating that the water flow through the lake has ceased has allowed Chinese authorities to recommence search and rescue operations.
The magnitude of the disaster has left families in multiple countries anxiously awaiting updates on relatives who are still unaccounted for.
Two sisters are among those searching for their missing parents. When discussing their parents, they expressed, “We just love them a lot and want them to come home.”
