China Halts Gyirong Rescue Over New Flood Risk
China has temporarily suspended rescue operations near Gyirong Port on the Nepal border after authorities warned that a newly formed barrier lake could trigger another flash flood or landslide. The move follows Wednesday’s devastating flooding, which left the border region heavily damaged and difficult to access.
China Halts Rescue Operations Near Gyirong Port
Rescue teams attempting to reach the badly affected Gyirong land port have been ordered to stop advancing because of the growing threat from the barrier lake.
Authorities said the lake, formed during Wednesday’s disaster, has continued rising for around 48 hours and is now overflowing continuously.
Officials warned that further movement towards the priority search areas would expose rescuers to an unacceptable risk of another sudden flood or landslide.
Barrier Lake Raises Secondary Disaster Risk
The newly formed lake has become one of the biggest immediate concerns for emergency teams operating in the region.
Barrier lakes can form when landslides, rockfalls or debris block a river channel. If the natural obstruction fails under increasing water pressure, a large volume of water and debris can be released downstream with little warning.
Authorities have therefore halted operations while monitoring the lake and surrounding terrain for signs of instability.
Rescue Teams Gather at Laojiang Village
Most rescue personnel have regrouped near the entrance to Laojiang village in Gyirong Town, around seven kilometres from the China-Nepal border.
The suspension is a major setback because Gyirong Port remains one of the areas prioritised for search and rescue after the flooding.
Operations are expected to resume only after authorities determine that the risk of another flash flood or landslide has reduced sufficiently.
