Nepal and China Resume Flood Rescue After Glacial Lake Overflow Risk Eases

Key facts

• A glacier collapse on August 26 caused a catastrophic flood that killed 547 people in Nepal and five in China's Tibet, with nearly 1,400 missing.
• The flood unleashed a torrent of rock, ice, mud and debris through Himalayan mountain river systems.
• A barrier lake formed after the collapse, with its reservoir topping 2.5 million cubic metres before overflowing into the Lhende Khola and Trishuli rivers.
• The overflow raised the water level by about 0.6 metres and briefly suspended rescue operations for about three hours.
• Nepal and China resumed rescue operations after the lake's overflow risk was deemed manageable.
• The flood destroyed power stations, roads and bridges along the Kathmandu-Lhasa route.
• The Red Cross estimated that more than 90,000 people were affected and that relief trucks were blocked after the barrier lake broke its banks.
• China's Politburo called for stronger monitoring of glacier lakes, landslide risks and barrier lakes, and for closer international disaster cooperation.