China says Nepal glacier collapse triggered deadly flash floods

China's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the collapse of a high-altitude glacier in Nepal likely triggered devastating flash floods that have killed at least 480 people across the Himalayan region, as President Xi Jinping ordered officials to make every effort to locate more than 1,200 missing Chinese and foreign nationals.

Glacier collapse suspected

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing that experts from both countries had made a preliminary assessment of the disaster, which struck northern and central Nepal as well as China's southern Tibet region early Wednesday. "The disaster may have been triggered by a collapse of a high-altitude glacier in Nepal," Lin said.

Xi chaired a meeting of the Communist Party's leadership on Friday that emphasized rescue operations, stating: "All relevant authorities and departments must take resolute and effective measures for the rescue-related work." China will provide emergency aid to Nepal and conduct international rescue cooperation, the meeting added, according to state-run Xinhua News.

Hundreds dead, over 1,200 missing

The floods and landslides struck before dawn on Wednesday, sweeping through communities along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers and devastating the Timure and Syaphrubesi areas in northern Nepal before carrying debris downstream. Nepal's police confirmed 475 deaths, while Beijing reported five fatalities in Gyirong County in the Xizang Autonomous Region, also known as Tibet.

More than 1,200 people remain unaccounted for across both countries, including 596 foreign nationals from 33 countries according to Kathmandu's Foreign Ministry, 127 unaccounted Nepalese nationals per the Nepal Tourism Board, and 558 people in Tibet including 260 foreigners. Lin noted that details of the missing foreigners "are being verified" and that Beijing "has already notified relevant countries' embassies."

Barrier lake breaches

Fresh concerns emerged on Friday after a large barrier lake that formed during the floods reportedly breached near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers, which merge to form the Bhotekoshi before entering Nepal. Beijing had warned on Thursday that the lake was "already overflowing" and posed a "high risk of a breach" to communities downstream.

A rescue official at Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport said helicopters stationed in Dhunche and Rasuwa were preparing to conduct reconnaissance over the area, while Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority warned of possible additional floods as water levels surged in the Bhotekoshi. Education Minister Sasmita Pokharel stated there "is no immediate major risk," according to the Online Khabar outlet.