Aid races to Nepal and Tibet as fears grow of another lake bursting

International aid is being mobilized to reach flood-stricken areas of Nepal and Tibet, as authorities issue urgent warnings about a rising lake at the disaster site that is at risk of bursting. The catastrophic flash floods, which occurred on Wednesday, thundered down valleys, obliterating villages and claiming at least 359 lives, with more than 1,300 people still unaccounted for.

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horrifying

Rescue teams are facing significant challenges in locating the missing, who include hundreds of tourists from India, the US, Britain, Australia, and Canada. The destruction of dozens of bridges and nearly 40 kilometers of roads in the mountainous region, a popular destination for trekkers and pilgrims, has severely complicated search efforts. Bodies have been found hundreds of miles downstream, and injured individuals are being transported to Kathmandu for medical care.

Videos from the disaster show a massive wall of water engulfing the border area, with little time for escape. Homes, roads, and power plants were swept away in Nepal, while officials in Tibet reported fears of "major casualties" after a mudslide hit a border crossing. The UN's humanitarian chief described the flood as "horrifying" and has allocated an initial $2 million in disaster funds for emergency relief.

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A huge surge of water came. Everything turned completely black, and I couldn’t understand what was happening. Suddenly, something heavy crushed me and I fell down. I searched desperately for my wife and children, but I couldn’t find them. They didn’t make it out. My wife was swept away too. I am all alone now.

Adding to the ongoing danger, Nepal's disaster authority has appealed for residents and rescuers to stay away from a swelling lake at the flood site. Chinese authorities also warned that a barrier lake at the confluence of rivers was overflowing. One survivor, Girilal Budhathoki, described the terrifying surge of water that swept away his wife and four children, leaving him alone.

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The whole place shook as if there had been a huge earthquake. But when I went outside, I saw everything a storm and raging water.