Chinese authorities have resumed rescue operations near the Nepal-Tibet border after concerns over a newly formed lake temporarily forced teams to halt their efforts. The rising water had raised fears that the lake could burst its banks and trigger another major flood in the already devastated Himalayan border region.
State media reported that water previously trickling through the lake on the Tibet side has now stopped, allowing rescue teams to restart operations. Authorities are continuing efforts to locate missing people and assess the damage caused by the catastrophic flooding.
In Nepal, the death toll has risen to 489, officials said, more than 48 hours after flash floods swept through communities near the Himalayan border. The disaster destroyed homes, roads and infrastructure, while a key Nepal-Tibet border crossing was also severely damaged.
The situation remains serious on the Tibetan side. Chinese state media reported that five people have died and more than 558 remain missing, although it is unclear whether the latest figures overlap with previously reported numbers.
The Nepali government has also released the names of around 500 missing foreign nationals. They include 178 people from India, 65 from the United States and 33 from the United Kingdom.
The surge reportedly tore through houses and roads, leaving families searching desperately for missing relatives.
With thousands of tourists visiting the region each year, rescue teams face a difficult operation amid widespread destruction and continuing risks from unstable terrain and water levels.
