The death toll from catastrophic flash floods and landslides on the Nepal-China border has risen to 538, according to Nepalese authorities, up from 390 a day earlier. China has revised its death count in Tibet from three to five. More than 1,400 people remain missing, including 517 foreigners from over 30 countries.

The International Red Cross estimates that over 93,000 people have been directly affected and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Rescue operations were temporarily halted on Friday after a barrier lake formed by debris began overflowing, threatening to trigger additional flooding in areas already devastated.

Narendra Pariyar, the chief bureaucrat of Rasuwa district, told DW that the lake had breached its banks and water levels in the river were rising. Residents fled to higher ground, but authorities later said the threat had eased, though they continue to monitor the situation closely.

The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse that sent rock and meltwater surging into rivers, has left a dangerous legacy: a barrier lake holding roughly 2 million cubic meters of water, with expectations of another 3 million cubic meters over the next three days. Chinese engineers are working to dig a drainage channel, but the rugged terrain poses significant challenges.

Kamal Kishore, head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, warned of "cascading hazards that might unfold," stating that "the disaster is not yet completely over." The World Health Organization has cautioned about the risk of infectious diseases due to displacement and disrupted water and sanitation services.

Nepal has declined foreign assistance for search-and-rescue operations, despite offers from several countries, including South Korea, which has pledged $1 million in humanitarian aid. Hundreds of foreign nationals remain unaccounted for, and international teams are on standby pending approval.

Source: www.dw.com