Flood disaster in Nepal: Dam breach feared, China halts rescue work

The risk of new flash floods is hampering rescue operations in the Chinese-Nepalese disaster zone. On the Chinese side, the search for missing persons has been temporarily suspended, according to Chinese state television (CCTV).

A "dangerous situation" has developed upstream from the Gyirong border crossing due to a newly formed lake. CCTV reported that the lake is already overflowing, prompting rescue teams to withdraw a kilometer and await further instructions. Aerial images show the lake, believed to be on Nepalese territory, formed after Wednesday's flash flood.

Chinese authorities had warned on Thursday about the potential for millions of cubic meters of water to flow into the lake, risking a breach and triggering another flash flood. Weather forecasts predict precipitation over the next three days. This, combined with the possibility of a new flood, could impede rescue efforts if access routes to the disaster area become impassable again.

Meanwhile, many foreign tourists, including eight Germans, are still missing. Nepal last reported 977 missing individuals, while China has reported 558 missing, 260 of whom are foreigners. Chinese technicians have been working to restore the collapsed telecommunications network in the area.