Key facts
- Rescue operations in Nepal's Rasuwa district were suspended for 90 minutes.
- A debris-dammed lake near the Nepal-China border began to overflow.
- The lake was formed by a glacier collapse that triggered catastrophic flooding.
- Chinese authorities confirmed the lake's reservoir has topped 2.5 million cubic meters of water.
- Rescue personnel have withdrawn to a safe area due to fears of further disasters.
- Nearly 1,000 people remain missing on both sides of the border.
Rescue operations in Nepal's flood-ravaged Rasuwa district have been temporarily halted for 90 minutes after a debris-dammed lake, formed by a glacier collapse, began to overflow. Chinese authorities confirmed the overflow, with the lake's reservoir reaching over 2.5 million cubic meters. This development has led to the suspension of rescue efforts and the withdrawal of personnel to safe areas due to fears of further disasters, including potential breaches and secondary events like mountain collapses or avalanches. The lake was created by a massive landslide that triggered catastrophic flooding along the China-Nepal border earlier this week, resulting in hundreds of deaths and leaving nearly 1,000 people missing on both sides. Light to moderate rainfall in the Gyirong border port area has further destabilised the region, and forecasts indicate continued rain and a significant inflow of water into the lake over the coming days, raising the risk of a breach. Authorities had dispatched an engineering team to conduct surveys and 3D modeling of the barrier lake, with a primary strategy to excavate a drainage channel. Aerial footage captured by a Chinese rescue team showed the accumulation of water against a barrier of debris and stones, submerging vegetation. Scientists are still investigating the exact cause of the initial disaster, with new video evidence showing a large portion of a glacier breaking off and plunging into the river. The ongoing situation highlights the precarious conditions in the Himalayas following the initial flash flood.