China Halts Tibet Rescue Operations Amid Flood Risk

Search and rescue operations in Tibet have been temporarily halted by China due to the significant risk of flash floods, with hundreds still missing following a deadly landslide on the China-Nepal border.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that a lake, formed by a massive accumulation of mud and debris from the landslide, has begun to overflow into the area where rescue teams were concentrated. All rescue personnel have been instructed to remain in place and await further directives. Emergency teams that had entered the affected zone have been ordered to retreat one kilometer from the site.

The lake formed after a wall of mud and debris struck the Gyirong border crossing in Tibet on Wednesday, leading to hundreds of reported missing individuals. CCTV forecasts that the lake's water level is expected to continue rising over the next three days due to persistent rainfall, potentially peaking around September 1.

Xinhua news agency reported that this situation increases the risk of the lake breaching and unleashing a flood wave into downstream areas. This could cause greater destruction, including in Gyirong Port and other regions along the downstream path, according to a late Thursday report by Xinhua. Emergency engineering teams are closely monitoring the lake's water level developments, CCTV stated.

As of Friday, 499 Chinese citizens and 555 foreign nationals had been evacuated from the disaster zone, CCTV reported. Rescuers are still attempting to locate missing victims using drones equipped with 3D modeling and thermal imaging technology, as well as manual searches in areas believed to have trapped survivors. However, the rescue operations were temporarily suspended to mitigate risks to personnel in the field. Authorities will determine the next steps based on the evolving water levels and conditions around the lake.