Two Barrier Lakes Grow as Toll Rises

Authorities in Nepal and China are bracing for further flood risk after a glacier collapse spawned two barrier lakes that began overflowing, prompting urgent rescue efforts and renewed monitoring. New tallies put the death toll at about 579 in Nepal and five in Tibet, with more than 90,000 people affected and nearly 2,000 Nepalese missing, alongside hundreds missing in Tibet. Experts warn unstable glacial lakes remain a threat, with one lake now outflowing and the other growing upstream, and China cautions that if a dam or part breaks downstream flows could reach about 500 cubic metres per second. Nepal has at times declined foreign rescue assistance as both nations paused operations before resuming them when conditions allowed. Rescue teams, including a Chinese border-crossing team, have faced difficult terrain and damaged infrastructure while assessing lake hazards. The situation remains dynamic with ongoing monitoring of multiple lakes and warnings for downstream communities.