Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered an aerial survey of a lake that formed on the Nepal-China border following a glacier collapse, highlighting the extreme difficulties faced by rescue teams. This lake, created by debris, has been steadily increasing in size, rising from an estimated 1.5-2 million cubic meters to 2.5 million cubic meters of water, and poses a significant risk of bursting and causing further catastrophic flooding in already devastated downstream communities. This development prompted Chinese rescue personnel to withdraw to safe areas, and Nepalese authorities temporarily halted their rescue operations for 90 minutes due to the immediate danger.
The disaster, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal on Wednesday morning, resulted in a massive torrent of ice, rocks, mud, and debris. This devastating mudslide swept through the Gyirong border port in China's Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region and continued downstream into Nepal. As of Friday, the confirmed death toll in Nepal had risen to 469, with nearly 1,000 people still missing across both Nepal and Tibet. In Tibet's Gyirong county, 265 people were reported missing as of Wednesday evening, with authorities still verifying casualties.
Rescue operations are proving to be exceptionally challenging due to the extensive damage to roads and bridges, making it difficult to access affected areas. While Nepal declined foreign rescue help despite international offers, the US Department of State announced $500,000 in emergency aid, and the United Nations allocated $2 million from its Global Emergency Fund CERF for Nepal relief efforts. Australia also pledged $3.6 million in aid and will send additional consular staff. Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing have also issued instructions and are guiding relief operations, with Xi Jinping emphasizing strengthening monitoring and early warnings to prevent secondary disasters.
