A China-Nepal early warning system has issued seven alerts for glacial and ice-avalanche risks in recent years, but it could not prevent Wednesday’s deadly cross-border disaster after a high-altitude ice-rock avalanche triggered a flash flood.
As of Friday morning, the death toll from the China-Nepal flash flood had risen to 469, with more than 1,000 people still missing. Nepal recorded 389 deaths and at least 644 missing people, while three people died and 558 remained missing on the Chinese side. The disaster engulfed the Gyirong Port border checkpoint, Tibet’s main foreign trade port with Nepal, and rescue teams faced difficulties reaching the affected area because of mud and debris.
