The massive surge of water was triggered by the collapse of a glacier, sending a powerful flood wave through settlements along the border
By Moses Okorie
Rescue operations have been suspended in parts of the Nepal-Tibet border region after authorities in China raised concerns that a newly formed lake could burst its banks and trigger another devastating flood.
The development comes as the death toll from catastrophic flooding in the Himalayan border region continues to rise, with at least 469 people confirmed dead in Nepal and hundreds still missing more than 48 hours after the disaster.
In Tibet, three people have reportedly died, while more than 550 others remain missing. Authorities have not clarified whether some of the missing-person figures overlap with those reported on the Nepalese side.
The suspension of rescue activities has heightened fears among emergency workers searching for survivors in areas already devastated by the initial flood.
A Red Cross official told the BBC that rescuers were on edge amid warnings that a second flood could strike the disaster zone.
Local officials said the massive surge of water was triggered by the collapse of a glacier, sending a powerful flood wave through settlements along the border. The rushing water swept away homes, damaged roads and destroyed a major crossing linking Nepal and Tibet.
The disaster has left communities struggling to account for family members and loved ones, while rescue teams continue efforts to reach isolated areas.
The region is also a major tourist destination, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year. The scale of the flooding has therefore raised concerns not only about local residents but also about tourists and travellers who may have been caught in the disaster.
For families waiting for news, the uncertainty has been devastating.
Two sisters whose parents are among those missing told the BBC that they were desperate for their loved ones to return.
“We just love them a lot and want them to come home”, they said.
Rescue operations are expected to remain challenging as authorities monitor the rising water and assess the risk of further flooding. The possibility of another surge has added urgency to efforts to locate survivors while making it more dangerous for rescue teams to enter affected areas.
Officials on both sides of the border are continuing to assess the full extent of the destruction, with the final death toll and number of missing people expected to change as communication is restored and more remote communities are reached.