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Debris lake risk rises after China-Nepal floods at Gyirong border
Rescuers say a landslide-generated debris flow hit the checkpoint at speeds up to 200 km/h, and a debris lake formed that could breach and worsen flooding.
The death toll from catastrophic flash floods and mudslides at the Gyirong Port border crossing between China and Nepal continued to climb on Friday, driven by growing concerns that a lake formed from debris could breach and trigger additional flooding.
By Friday morning, three people were confirmed dead and 558 were missing on the Chinese side of the border, while in Nepal 469 people had died and at least 644 were missing, according to the report.
The disaster began on Wednesday when a massive Himalayan landslide triggered a fast-moving debris flow that swept down from the border area. State broadcaster CCTV said the torrent traveled at up to 200 km/h and created a wall of water as high as 15 metres when it struck the checkpoint.
Satellite images released by Xinhua on Thursday showed mud and debris burying the Gyirong checkpoint in China’s Shigatse region and surrounding residential areas, with the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge washed away and silt deposits altering the river channel and local terrain.