China Halts Tibet Rescue Operation Amid Flood Risks

On Friday, China halted a rescue operation in Tibet due to the heightened risk of renewed flooding after a deadly mudslide that occurred on Wednesday at the China-Nepal border. State media reported that a lake formed by debris from the mudslide is overflowing towards the area where rescue teams were deployed.

As a precaution, all rescue teams have been ordered to stand by and wait for further instructions, with those who had accessed the area instructed to withdraw one kilometer. The lake's water levels are expected to rise over the next three days due to ongoing rainfall, with a peak anticipated around September 1, increasing the risk of a breach that could lead to further flooding downstream, including in Gyirong Port.

As of Friday, 499 Chinese nationals and 555 foreigners have been evacuated from the disaster zone. Rescue efforts are utilizing drone-based 3D modeling, thermal imaging detection, and manual searches to locate the missing individuals.