Rescue operations following Wednesday’s devastating landslide in Nepal have been disrupted by the threat of flooding from a lake formed after the collapse of a glacier triggered the disaster.
Chinese authorities announced on Friday that operations in the affected area had been suspended.
A CCTV reporter at the scene said water had begun overflowing from the lake and flowing towards the Gyirong border crossing, one of the areas worst hit by the disaster.
“All rescue teams have therefore been ordered to remain in position and await further instructions,” the reporter said.
The Nepal Army later announced a similar suspension, saying rescue operations would be halted for 90 minutes after local officials reported that the lake had overflowed.
Residents in the area have meanwhile been moving to higher ground for safety.
Lake contains up to 2 million cubic metres of water
Chinese and Nepalese authorities had warned on Thursday of the risk of further flooding in the Himalayas after debris created a lake that could overflow.
According to data collected by Chinese scientists, the lake is around 150 metres long and 40 to 50 metres deep. It currently holds an estimated 1.5 to 2 million cubic metres of water.
Rainfall in the Gyirong area has also destabilised the terrain, while further rain is expected over the coming week.
Chinese authorities warned on Thursday that another 3 million cubic metres of water – equivalent to around 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools – could flow into the lake in the coming days, increasing the risk of an overflow. The largest accumulation of water is expected around September 1.
China’s Ministry of Water Resources has instructed local authorities to closely monitor the lake and rainfall, and to warn residents in areas that could be affected by any flooding, state news agency Xinhua reported.
Hundreds killed and thousands missing
Nepalese authorities have also increased warnings over the possibility of another landslide.
“Due to the risk of further flooding, all residents are urged to remain extremely cautious,” the emergency management authority said.
A huge volume of water and mud swept through the area between Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday morning, destroying entire villages.
According to local police, 469 people have died in Nepal and another three on the Chinese side.
Almost 700 firefighters, supported by drones and trained dogs, have been deployed in Gyirong, according to authorities.
In Nepal, the army has sent two helicopters to assist in evacuating around 100 workers trapped inside an underground tunnel at a hydropower dam construction site.
The Prime Minister’s Office said 350 workers and residents had already been evacuated by the army under “very dangerous conditions” made more difficult by the weather and flooding.
Meanwhile, Chinese state media reported on Thursday that 558 people, including 260 foreign nationals, remain missing.
In Nepal, the number of missing people has reached 910, including foreign nationals from India, Ukraine, Britain, Canada, Australia and Malaysia.
Also read: Melting glaciers may have fuelled deadly Nepal floods, experts say
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