Nepal and China restart flood rescues after upstream lake threat eases
Rescue teams in Nepal and China resumed flood operations on Friday after halting them when an upstream landslide lake threatened to overflow.
Source: Channel NewsAsia · August 28, 2026 at 10:01 AM · AI-assisted report
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NEPAL-CHINA BORDER, 28 AUGUST 2026 —
Rescue teams in Nepal and China resumed flood operations on Friday after halting them when an upstream landslide lake threatened to overflow.
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China restarted relief work after assessing the risk from the dammed lake as manageable. Nepal followed 90 minutes later. More than 1,000 people remain missing two days after a glacier collapse sent a wall of water and mud across the border, killing 490 in Nepal and five in China’s Tibet region.
The floods began on Wednesday when the glacier gave way, unleashing torrents that scoured villages and cut off roads. Rescue helicopters struggled to land in mountainous terrain as rain and aftershocks raised the danger of further landslides. Authorities warned that swollen rivers could cut off remaining escape routes overnight.
With the temporary blockage stabilising, both countries restarted searches for survivors and victims. China’s Ministry of Emergency Management said the lake’s water level was falling, allowing teams to probe riverbanks and mudslides. Nepal’s home ministry reported engineers had cleared one blocked highway, letting aid convoys reach cut-off districts.
Related: Nepal-China border