Key facts
- Rescue operations in Nepal were halted for 90 minutes due to an overflowing debris-dammed lake.
- The lake formed from a glacier collapse that caused catastrophic flooding.
- Chinese authorities confirmed the lake's reservoir reached over 2.5 million cubic meters.
- Rescue personnel were withdrawn to safe areas amid fears of further disasters.
- The flood has killed 552 people across Nepal and China, with nearly 1,000 missing.
Rescue operations in Nepal's Rasuwa district resumed on Friday after a temporary 90-minute suspension caused by an overflowing debris-dammed lake. The lake, formed by a glacier collapse that triggered catastrophic flooding earlier in the week, had raised fears of further disasters. Chinese authorities confirmed the lake's reservoir had reached over 2.5 million cubic meters, prompting rescue personnel to withdraw to safe areas. The initial flood, which spanned the Nepal-China border, resulted in 547 deaths in Nepal and five in China, with nearly 1,000 people still missing across both countries. Light to moderate rainfall in the region had further destabilized the area, with forecasts indicating continued rain and significant water inflow into the lake. An engineering team had been dispatched to survey the barrier lake and explore strategies for excavating a drainage channel. Scientists are investigating the precise cause of the initial disaster, with new video evidence suggesting a large portion of a glacier broke off and fell into the river.