ISLAMABAD: A massive glacier collapse high in the Himalayas along the Nepal-China border has caused catastrophic flash floods and mudslides. The disaster occurred early in the morning on Aug 26, releasing a powerful surge of water, ice, and rock through mountain valleys. The following are updates as of Sunday, Aug 30.



Rescuers moved after new lake forms in mudslide-hit area of Tibet


Chinese rescuers near the Tibet border port that was hit by a deadly mudslide were "moved to a safe location" Sunday, after a new lake was formed by a landslide, state media reported.


"On the evening of Aug 29, monitoring drones deployed in the area detected a landslide on a mountainside 2.8 kilometers downstream from the Purepuqiang Tsangpo barrier lake," the state broadcaster said, referring to a drained lake that had in previous days threatened rescue operations.


"The landslide formed a new barrier and a new barrier lake is now forming," CCTV said, adding that rescue personnel near the Gyirong border port had been moved to safer areas.

Nepal flood death toll rises to 734: disaster authority
Devastating floods near the border with China killed at least 734 people in Nepal, and 2,498 remain missing, its disaster authority said Sunday, as rescue efforts entered a fifth day.


Chinese state media had earlier confirmed 16 dead in Tibet and 546 people missing following Wednesday's disaster.


That takes the overall toll to 750 dead and 3,044 missing.


The number of missing in Nepal rose from the 2,426 recorded in its last update on Saturday evening.


That list included 589 foreigners, an increase from the 517 previously listed as out of contact.


It also included 933 workers on hydropower projects along the river that the torrent crashed through, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.


The disaster authority said teams had rescued 8,186 people in total, including 227 foreigners.


In India, authorities said they had recovered seven bodies from rivers flowing from Nepal, believed to be flood victims. However, they are not included in the toll.