Search-and-rescue operations have resumed in flood-affected areas along the Nepal–China border after the immediate threat from an overflowing mountain lake was assessed as manageable.According to figures reported by authorities, at least 579 people have died in Nepal, while additional fatalities have been confirmed in Tibet. Approximately 2,500 people remain unaccounted for across the two countries, making the disaster one of the deadliest to strike the Himalayan region in recent years.The emergency began after a glacier and surrounding rock reportedly collapsed into a river, releasing a destructive surge of water, ice, mud and debris. More than 90,000 people have been affected. Foreign tourists and pilgrims travelling through the Mount Kailash region are also among those reported missing.
Nepalese and Chinese authorities continue to monitor newly formed barrier lakes amid concerns that another breach could produce further flooding.
Why it matters: The disaster highlights the growing risks associated with unstable glaciers, glacial lakes and extreme weather in the warming Himalayan region.
