Beijing —
Perilous rescue efforts along the China-Nepal border are being complicated by the risk of new flooding or landslides, with authorities in China and Nepal briefly pausing rescue operations Friday due to those fears.
A barrier lake – holding enough water to fill an estimated 1,000 Olympic swimming pools – began overflowing on the China-Nepal border, where it formed after a powerful landslide and torrential flooding devastated the area on Wednesday. A barrier lake is a body of water created by debris damming up a river.
Helicopter rescue operations in Nepal’s flood-hit Rasuwa district were stopped and locals were seen rushing up a hill after reports that the lake had begun to overflow, the Reuters news agency reported, citing a witness.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported late Friday morning the newly formed lake had begun overflowing, posing a risk of flash floods or landslides and prompting teams to pause efforts to reach the hard-hit Gyirong land port.
