Nepal halts search and rescue after border floods

Nepal's government has decided to suspend search and rescue operations following the massive mudslide and flash flooding disaster in August along its border with China. The government on Monday announced the decision to halt the operations involving military and police personnel, except for essential search and rescue efforts.

Officials cited the lower probability of finding survivors 40 days after the disaster. They noted that operations will resume if new information emerges. The disaster, which struck on August 26, left 1,455 people dead and more than 5,200 unaccounted for in Nepal. 

Chinese media reported that 43 people were killed and more than 510 others remain unaccounted for on the Chinese side of the border. While continuing the search for victims' remains, the Nepalese government plans to shift its focus to recovery and reconstruction.