469 Dead, 1,300 Missing as Fresh Flood Threat Stalls Rescue
A fresh flood threat has forced China to suspend rescue operations at the epicentre of the devastating disaster along its border with Nepal.
The move came as the death toll in Nepal rose to 469, with more than 1,300 people still missing after Wednesday’s catastrophic flash floods.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said a lake created by huge deposits of debris was overflowing towards the area where rescue teams were preparing to operate.
Authorities ordered teams already at the site to retreat about one kilometre and remain on standby.
The development has complicated an already desperate search for survivors, with rescuers facing destroyed roads, collapsed bridges and unstable water conditions.
100 Trapped Underground
In Nepal, the army has launched an operation to rescue about 100 people trapped inside a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project.
Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet said two helicopters had been sent to assist the operation, but rescuers were struggling to identify the tunnel entrances.
The Nepalese prime minister’s office said 350 workers and residents had earlier been rescued from the area.
Troops are continuing efforts to reach those still trapped despite the difficult conditions.
Another Disaster Could Be Coming
Authorities fear the disaster could worsen if the debris-created lake breaks its banks.
Chinese state media warned that continued rainfall could push about three million cubic metres of water into the lake over the next three days.
If the barrier gives way, floodwater could surge towards Gyirong Port and other areas downstream.
Nepal has also warned residents about rising water levels around debris-blocked waterways.
The possibility of another flood has forced rescuers to reconsider how far they can safely enter the affected areas.
Tourists and Pilgrims Still Missing
The disaster has left hundreds of foreign nationals among those unaccounted for.
Nepalese officials say more than 500 foreign citizens are missing, including people from India, the US, Australia, Britain and Canada.
Thirty-nine Australians are among those reported missing, including a Sydney family who had travelled to Nepal for a pilgrimage.
Their relatives are waiting anxiously for information while hoping the missing travellers are eventually found alive.
On the Tibetan side, Chinese authorities have evacuated 555 tourists and 499 local residents from the affected area, according to state media.
Roads Cut Off, Relief Expands
The destruction has severely restricted movement across the mountainous region.
Nearly 40 kilometres of roads have been damaged and dozens of bridges destroyed, making it harder for rescue teams to reach isolated communities.
Bodies have also been recovered far downstream from the areas initially hit by the flood.
The Nepalese army has been using helicopters to evacuate stranded people and fly injured survivors to Kathmandu for treatment.
As the immediate search continues, the Nepal Red Cross Society is expanding relief operations for communities devastated by the floods.
The organisation has appealed for $31 million, while the United Nations has released $2 million for emergency medical care, shelter and water.
China has deployed hundreds of military and paramilitary personnel to the disaster zone, with Premier Li Qiang visiting Gyirong to oversee the response.
For rescuers, the mission has become increasingly dangerous. They are searching for survivors while preparing for the possibility that another wave of floodwater could arrive before the first operation is complete.
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