Chinese authorities warned Friday that a lake formed by a mudslide on the China-Nepal border could breach and send floodwaters downstream, threatening further damage. Water levels are expected to rise over the next three days, with 499 residents and 555 tourists already evacuated from the disaster zone. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Nepalese authorities have resumed rescue operations in the region hit by a devastating flood this week, after a brief suspension due to water breaking through a lake dam. The devastating flooding in Nepal and Tibet has claimed more than 500 lives and left at least 1,400 missing, with ongoing conditions complicating rescue efforts. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Nepal floods trauma 'enormous', Red Cross says
The level of trauma cascading from the Nepal flash floods is "enormous", the Red Cross said, with early estimates suggesting 93,000 people may have been affected.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the world's largest humanitarian network, fears the death toll from Wednesday's disaster, already above 500, will continue to rise.
"Due to roads and bridges having been washed out and both cell coverage and electricity cuts, we have not yet been able to access some of the hardest-hit areas," said David Fisher, the IFRC head of delegation for Nepal.
"The trauma of this event is enormous," he told a press conference in Geneva, speaking from Kathmandu.
Nepal flood death toll rises to 552
India says around 320 Indians still missing after Nepal flood
Around 320 Indian nationals are still missing in the aftermath of a devastating flash flood that struck areas near the Nepal-Tibet border this week, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry said.
At least 400 Indian nationals were stranded but safe on the Chinese side while another 96 had crossed into Nepal by land, the spokesperson added.
Rescuers reach Tibet mudslide epicentre, Chinese state media says
Rescuers in Tibet reached the main area wiped out by a devastating mudslide this week, Chinese state media reported, as the search for hundreds of missing people battled treacherous conditions.
"At approximately 4:30pm (0830 GMT) on 28 August, six members of the first response team from the Fire and Rescue Corps of Tibet and 15 members and one dog from the first response team of the Fire and Rescue Corps of Sichuan arrived at the border area ... They are the first professional teams to reach the core rescue site," state news agency Xinhua reported.
🎥 'Very challenging' for survivors who have lost their homes and their families
While Nepal has considerable experience responding to natural disasters, the scale of the present devastation exposes a deeper challenge, placing greater emphasis on preparedness.
The immediate priorities are clear: finding those still missing and providing survivors with drinking water, food, shelter, clothing and medicine. But recovery cannot end there. Ultimately, they will need to rebuild confidence and entire communities. Given the scale of the destruction, that process could take years.
FRANCE 24's Alison Sargent welcomes Sunita Sharma, Head of Programs of Karuna-Shechen who tells us more.
Nepal flood death toll rises to 538, disaster authority says
Devastating floods on the Nepal-Tibet border region this week have killed at least 538 people, Nepal's disaster authority said.
Chinese state media earlier confirmed five dead following Wednesday's disaster, taking the total killed to at least 543. More than 1,400 people are missing, including hundreds of foreigners.
Nepal monitoring two lakes, flood risk to remain until they're fully drained, official says
Nepal is monitoring two lakes upstream of the flood zone, one of which began overflowing, an official with Nepal's Disaster Management Authority said.
Flood risks will remain until the two lakes have fully drained, the official added.
Nepalese authorities are relying on satellite imagery to track conditions, though monitoring is limited by the availability of images, the official said. Nepal plans to install cameras and sensors downstream, including near the border town of Timure, and is assessing deployment options by helicopter, he said.
117 tourists rescued, Nepal tourism ministry says
🎥 Nepal flood disaster reconstructed minute by minute
New satellite imagery and video analysis show the deadly Nepal floods began when part of a glacier near the Chinese border collapsed, triggering a debris flow that raced downstream at up to 150km/h and devastated communities over more than 80 kilometres.
Scientists are still piecing together the exact sequence of events, while authorities warn the disaster may not be over as a newly formed lake upstream has started to overflow.
🎥 In Tibet and Nepal, 'the most pressing fear is that the death toll could rise'
At least 474 people have been killed and more than 1,500 remain missing after devastating flash floods hit the Himalayan border between Nepal and China, where over 3,250 people have already been evacuated by helicopter.
As rescuers race to find survivors, one of the biggest fears is that the death toll will continue to rise, with authorities also warning that an overflowing lake upstream could trigger more flooding.
Downstream rescue operations in China had resumed following a brief halt, after flood risks from an overflowing barrier lake on the Nepal-Tibet border were deemed "manageable", China's state broadcaster said.
🎥 Countries step up aid for Nepal flood disaster
Countries including South Korea, India, China, the UK and the EU are ramping up rescue efforts and humanitarian aid after the devastating Nepal-China floods, with hundreds of foreign nationals still missing.
Relief operations remain difficult in the Himalayan terrain, while authorities warn that a lake formed by the disaster could burst and trigger a second wave of flooding.
'Very concerned about risk of secondary flood', Red Cross official says
Over 90,000 affected by Himalayan landslide, Red Cross says
More than 90,000 people are estimated to be affected by the Himalayan landslide, the Red Cross said, as aid officials voiced fears of further flooding.
"We're of course very concerned about the secondary flood," said David Fisher, head of delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Nepal.
He said that its trucks with relief supplies were blocked after a lake formed by the landslide broke its banks.
Nepal seeks foreign aid but says its rescue teams coping
Nepal appealed for international financial assistance after devastating floods near its border with Tibet, but said it was coping without foreign rescue teams.
"Our focus is on search and rescue right now," foreign ministry spokesman Lok Bahadur Chhetri told AFP.
He said Nepal's security forces were capable of handling rescue operations, but the government would request specialised foreign expertise if needed.
"It is not that we will not need help, but our security network is capable and working effectively right now," he said.
"If Nepal needs any specialised help or expertise, then we will request it."
The prime minister's office has appealed for funds to help recover from the disaster, both domestic and international.
French FM says 'no news from several French nationals'
The French Foreign Affairs ministry issued a statement on Thursday expressing “France’s full solidarity with Nepal and China following the terrible floods and landslides that struck them on August 26." and "extending its condolences to the families of the victims and its support to all those affected by this tragedy".
The statement notes that French authorities are closely monitoring the situation on the ground, particularly regarding the welfare of French nationals present there. “At this time, we have no news of several French nationals and are in contact with their families. Efforts to locate them are ongoing. French nationals in the affected areas are urged to follow the instructions of local authorities.”
Nepal resumes rescue operations in areas affected by flood
Nepalese authorities have resumed rescue operations in the region hit by a devastating flood this week, an army spokesperson said, after a brief suspension due to water overflowing from a barrier lake.
China's Xi offers to aid Nepal rescue
Chinese President Xi Jinping offered Beijing's help in Nepal's rescue operations, state media said, after deadly flooding at their shared border.
"China is willing to actively assist Nepal in its rescue efforts and provide support and aid to the best of its ability," Xi said in a condolence message to Nepal's president, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
China's premier Li extends condolences to Nepal counterpart
• Nepal and China both warned of fresh risks of flooding in the Himalayas as two lakes that have developed on either side of their border threaten to burst.
• Devastating floods on the Nepal-Tibet border have killed at least 359 people, Nepali police said in an update.
