China flood rescue efforts hampered by relentless rain and river

• Rescue teams are working to restore National Highway 216, the sole road to the Gyirong border crossing into Nepal.
• The road was destroyed by a mudslide and floods caused by a glacier collapse.
• Rescuers face challenges from relentless rain, powerful river currents, and the risk of further landslides.
• 16 people have been confirmed dead, and 546 are still missing.
• Authorities are concerned about potential new dams forming upstream in Nepal, which could cause further flooding.

Chinese rescue teams are continuing efforts to reopen the sole road to the Gyirong border crossing into Nepal, which was devastated by a catastrophic mudslide and floods last week. Rescuers are battling relentless rain and powerful river currents, with the road in a narrow mountain gorge between crumbling cliffs and a raging river. State broadcaster CCTV reported that river currents are flowing at 6 to 7 metres per second, significantly faster than normal, and efforts to rebuild the road have been repeatedly washed away.

National Highway 216, the crucial route to the border, was severely damaged when debris from a glacier collapse flooded the river systems in both Nepal and China. Road repairs began on Wednesday, but the danger is not over. While lakes formed by the initial debris have drained, there is a risk that further landslide activity or a dam forming upstream in Nepal could send another torrent into the rescue zone.

Authorities are monitoring the crater left by the glacier collapse, which is shrinking, but fear a new collapse could trigger another disaster. Forecasters have warned of heavier rain through Wednesday, which could further swell rivers and lakes. By Tuesday afternoon, over 60 rescuers had entered the disaster zone to search for survivors. The force of the mudslide left scars on the surrounding slopes reaching up to 60 metres high. China's official casualty count remains at 16 killed, with 546 people still missing.