Chinese rescuers find ‘nothing but ruins’ at border crossing as Nepal seeks help to ID and store the dead

Live updates

1. 16d ago

   Death Toll Hits 750 After Glacier Collapse on Nepal-China Border

   At least 750 people are dead and over 3,000 remain missing after a glacier collapse on Wednesday triggered catastrophic floods and mudslides across the Himalayas. Chinese rescue teams reported finding nothing but ruins at a border crossing, with no sign of survivors. Rescuers are currently pumping air into a hydropower tunnel to locate missing workers. While China has pledged emergency aid and deployed expert tunnel rescue teams, it has emphasized that the disaster originated in Nepal. The Nepali government is seeking technical support to identify and store the dead.

   Why it matters

   A massive torrent of rock, ice, and mud swept through mountain river systems, destroying infrastructure and blocking roads in high mountain canyons. The disaster has created new lakes that authorities are monitoring for further flooding risks. Rebuilding costs are estimated by a Nepali minister to reach billions of dollars.

   What is confirmed

   • A glacier collapse on Wednesday unleashed floods and mudslides across the Nepal-China border.
   • The death toll reached 750 by Sunday morning.
   • More than 3,000 people are missing on both sides of the border.
   • Chinese rescue teams found nothing but ruins at a border crossing.
   • India and China are sending expert tunnel rescue teams to assist Nepal.
   • Rescuers are pumping air into a hydropower tunnel to search for missing workers.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The cost of rebuilding could be billions of dollars.
   • A second newly formed lake is being closely monitored by authorities.

   What to watch next

   • Results of the hydropower tunnel air-pumping operation
   • Updates on the stability of newly formed lakes
   • Delivery of pledged Chinese emergency aid to Nepal
   Sources used for this update (16)

   1. Bloomberg.com — Tibet Mudslide Engulfs Complex at China’s Gateway to Nepal
   2. Reuters — Rescuers scour Nepal flood debris as risk of fresh flooding grows
   3. news.cgtn.com — Xi chairs CPC leadership meeting on Gyirong mudslide rescue efforts
   4. South China Morning Post — China pledges to send urgent emergency aid to Nepal after deadly landslide
   5. The New York Times — China Offers Condolences to Nepal While Emphasizing Disaster Began There
   6. The Guardian — Chinese rescuers find ‘nothing but ruins’ at border crossing as Nepal seeks help to ID and store the dead
   7. www.cnn.com — ‘No sign of survivors’ at Chinese border crossing as Nepal flooding death toll passes 600
   8. www.theguardian.com — Chinese rescuers find ‘nothing but ruins’ at border crossing as Nepal seeks help to ID and store the dead
   9. www.theguardian.com — Nepal-Tibet floods: Nepal calls for technical support for rescue efforts as number of missing rises to nearly 3,000 – latest updates
   10. uk.news.yahoo.com — Fans welcome All Blacks players in Cape Town ahead of South Africa clash
   11. www.cnn.com — Rescuers pump air into hydropower tunnel in search for missing workers after Nepal-China flooding
   12. www.aljazeera.com — Nepal-China flood disaster: What’s the latest toll, how many are missing?
   confidence 95%