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Nepali Police: Dam Bursts, Residents Urged To Seek Safety; White House: No Ongoing Negotiations With Iran; Trade War Shifts To Name Changes. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired August 28, 2026 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

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SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us from around the world. I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London. We have breaking news out of Nepal for you, where authorities are urging people all along the border with China to seek higher ground. Nepali police say a dam on the Chinese side of the border has burst, and it is threatening to unleash new flooding downstream just days after a catastrophic flash flood hit the region.

A Chinese state media reporter has described large amounts of dust in the air. This is near the barrier lake that is bursting, experts on site say it's an indication of movement in the mountain -- in the mountains. Authorities in China have been warning that the dam created during Wednesday's landslide could unleash further destruction and endanger those search and rescue efforts.

As a precaution, China and Nepal have paused rescue operations. Wednesday's disaster killed at least 469 people. More than 1,300 are now missing, including hundreds of foreign nationals. New video into CNN shows rescuers crawling through very thick mud to pull flood survivors from inside the tunnel of a hydro power plant in Nepal, as you can see there.

Emergency teams are battling severe conditions and are relying on aircraft to reach some of the hardest hit and remote areas. I want to bring in now CNN's Mike Valerio. He is tracking developments for us. I mean, we're looking at these images, Mike, of some of these rescue operations, and I can only imagine just how gut wrenching this announcement that China is suspending rescue efforts along that border. How difficult that must be for families to hear. Why is that happening now?

MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, I mean, incredibly dangerous, gut wrenching, and it's happening, Salma, because essentially debris made a dam above this river, so debris is blocking a river, and it fills up this new valley with water. And now there's the danger that the debris dam, so to speak, could potentially lead to torrents of water coming out of this new lake and leading to a secondary disaster. So, you know, the headline at the top of our show is that this new

lake, there's been some sort of burst. But we want to say that we're being quite cautious here at CNN because it's unclear because of differences in language between Nepal and China whether or not a burst of this newly created lake has happened, or instead, rather water has sort of overtaken the banks of this lake and is now coming down into the lower altitude regions.

But regardless, of course, you're correct, Salma, that the Red Cross, the United Nations, they've both directed people and villagers in the surrounding area to seek higher ground because of the risk, because water is definitely coming into lower altitude areas downstream from this newly created lake. We're just not 100 percent sure whether it's a burst of this new debris dam or water is simply coming out of this newly formed lake, so that is certainly what our reporting targets are for the next hour.

But why it's so important is because the enduring images, some of the videos of -- of what happened of this border crossing being swept away by debris. That is the area the Chinese rescuers say is too dangerous for them to access because of the danger associated with this newly formed lake. For what it's worth, what we are talking about right now, Salma, has captured the attention of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

He is just quoted in a meeting of the Politburo within the past hour, telling rescuers and engineers that they need to be laser focused, incredibly focused on the danger that this new debris lake could pose for rescue teams. Chinese Premier Li Qiang is also in the area, just showing how seriously China is taking this huge catastrophe. But interesting to note, we have a lot of information coming from the Nepal side in terms of the death toll. How many people are missing?

If memory serves, we have about 100 people, according to Chinese state media figures, who are missing on the Chinese side. But the death toll here, Salma, from China still stands at three. That, based on what we've seen, there's no way that you know it seemingly can stand. At that level, it's just information is trickling out very slowly from the Chinese side of the border.

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So a lot of storylines and ground to cover in terms of information that we need to garner to get a clearer picture of what's happening. But it's this lake that is posing a lot of problems for the search and rescue efforts on both sides of the border, Salma.

ABDELAZIZ: Very dynamic situation on the ground there with a dam that may potentially have been burst or overflowing. Rescue operations that are at risk right now, missing family members, loved ones of course seeking more information.

VALERIO: Exactly.

ABDELAZIZ: Mike Valerio there following every development for us. Thank you.

VALERIO: Thanks Salma.

ABDELAZIZ: And now turning to Norway, where King Harald V has passed away. The royal house in Oslo announced his death on its website earlier today. At 89, he was Europe's oldest monarch. Harald ascended to the throne at age 53. This was in 1991. He leaves behind his wife, Queen Sonja, two children, and five grandchildren.

I want to bring in now our royal correspondent, Max Foster. He joins us live from Hampshire, England. Now I know, of course, the king had been ill for some time, Max, but this must still come as a shock to his family, to his country. How will he be mourned and remembered?

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think he was a very respected king, as you say. He had lots of health complications. He went into hospital a few days ago, and then yesterday it clearly got very serious because the Queen and the Crown Prince canceled all of their engagements and went to the hospital.

And then we got the news that he passed away peacefully this morning. So his son, Prince Haakon, as was, is now automatically king, King Haakon of Norway. This is always the challenge. I've spoken to monarchs before in Europe about the great challenge about their parents dying in that, you know, they want time to mourn their parents, but at the same time, they've automatically become head of state, and they have a duty to come out to the public. And to, you know, it's their first moment as monarch as well.

So Haakon will be thinking about that right now. There is -- he does -- you know, he was -- he is the youngest of three children, Haakon. So, and that he had two older sisters, he will become king, though, even though the law in Norway was changed to allow older sisters to become queens and monarchs, but that wasn't respectively treated. So Haakon becomes king. His daughter, though, will become the next queen according to the line of succession.

And you know the -- the late king, as we see him here, was a very respected figure. A lot of it goes back to the Second World War, Salma, because when the Nazis took over Norway, the royal family survived and -- and were exiled, and after the Second World War, the family came back to cheering crowds.

So they have this very close association to the late king, who was a young boy when he returned to Norway at the time. So I think it is a very difficult moment for Norway today. But he had been ill for some time. I think people were expecting it, and as you say, he was very old.

ABDELAZIZ: CNN Royal Correspondent Max Foster there on our other breaking news this hour. The King of Norway has just passed away. This was just a couple of hours ago. There's so much more to come here on CNN Newsroom, including a major milestone on the U.S. war against Iran in a push to put diplomacy back on track, and the tense trade war between the U.S. and Canada has taken an unexpected turn into a war over a name of lakes. Just ahead, what President Trump is saying about those changes.

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ABDELAZIZ: Welcome back. Let's go to our top story this hour. Authorities in Nepal are urging people all along that border with China to seek higher ground. Nepali police say a dam on the Chinese side of the border has burst, and this threatens to unleash new flooding downstream. This is just days after a catastrophic flash flood hit the region.

For more on all of this, I want to bring in Retired Nepali Army Colonel Ratindra Khatri. He is also a technical advisor with the Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal, and he joins us now live from Kathmandu. Thank you, first of all, for being with us in the midst of what is an ongoing tragedy.

We just had this news just this hour that some of the search and rescue operations along that border are going to be suspended because of the threat of further landslides and flooding, which is making the search for survivors so much more dangerous. What are you hearing right now about what's happening on the ground?

COL. RATINDRA KHATRI, NEPALI ARMY (RET): Well, thank you, Salma. Well, the situation is still chaotic on the ground, but however, the government emphasized with the hope of rescuing the victims alive, because we are still in a golden hour period. Tomorrow is going to be the 72 hours. Before that, the chances of survival rate is very high. So that's why the search and rescue operation is continue.

This morning only they have rescued the four victims alive from one tunnel. That was a very difficult rescue, and the operation is continue. The main challenge they are facing now is that after the water level subside, the place has become the full of swamp, where it's difficult to maneuver and difficult to land the helicopters.

That kind of challenges there, and so still the another that alarming warning that I have received that has created another chaotic environment. However, the rescue operation is not sustained yet, and this is continued but they are cautious.

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The security forces are more alert and doing their job simultaneously at the same time. And -- but the -- the task is not that easy. Yesterday they did an excellent job. They have rescued huge a number of victims from the different part of the affected areas, and -- and they are brought to the holding areas, and the management of that is another challenge. However, the -- the recent alarm, what we have heard, has create a kind of confusion and a kind of a kind of risk of another explode that may be even a larger scale than the previous one.

So -- so with that reality, the operation is going on. Seven military and seven civilian helicopters, almost 14-15 helicopters are on the on the ground, and they are manual. They are trying to gather the peoples, and those people who have already rescued, brought to the safe areas, and even they have disseminating. They are providing the early warning information to remain alert, so that people not be that victims with the potential threat of another flood.

ABDELAZIZ: Thank you so much for breaking down some details of -- of those rescue operations. I know you mentioned 15 helicopters. Is that enough to deal with just how widespread the devastation is? I mean, we're looking at these drone images overhead of just entire villages that look like they have been wiped out by this flooding. Do the people on the ground have everything they need right now to carry out those rescue operations? What more is needed?

KHATRI: Well, Salma, this is the first time we have seen the 15 helicopters at a time employed in the rescue operation. But still, that is not sufficient because it covers a wide area, especially in northern part in the Rasuwa district. There is no road access, at least up to the Nuwakot district, up to Trishuli, there is a road connectivity. But beyond that is not sufficient. That is the reason why this morning Army Combat Engineer and the other engineers support, they are trying to open up a small, I mean, the alternative route to go to the Rasuwa district, so that minimum -- minimum required really can be delivered.

But till now, they are relying only on the helicopter supply, which is not sufficient. In fact, our rescuer are working in a constrained environment. However, with the morale and with the hope to rescue fellow citizen alive, and also there are the guests. Many foreigners are still trapped. As you know, that yesterday 119 foreigners were rescued. Most of them were the Indian citizen, and of course, there were two American also rescued alive yesterday.

Still, there are many other missing. That's why they are not lost the hope, and therefore, there's not only that constraint because the weather and rain and so many other things, you know, the atmospheric because of that they are finding difficulties. However, the effort is continue, and all our resources and manpower are channelized there, mobilized there, and they are trying level best on a sort of a rescue operation, but -- but still there's a lot of constraint environment.

ABDELAZIZ: Very extreme terrain and extreme conditions that you're describing there, with the possibility of more landslides, more flooding. The Nepalese army doing everything it can to -- to deploy those resources on the ground as quickly as possible. And such an important reminder that this is such a global disaster because there are also so many tourists on the ground that are missing, hundreds of people right now missing. Thank you so much for joining us from Kathmandu.

KHATRI: Thank you. Thank you so much.

ABDELAZIZ: Today marks six months since the U.S. and Israel launched their war against Iran, and a year -- and half a year later, rather, there is no clear end in sight. The White House says there are no ongoing negotiations with Tehran to end the conflict. The U.S. has been refocusing its economic pressure on the regime, but President Donald Trump is still very vague about his all-out economic campaign. On Thursday, he refused to say if he discussed the issue with foreign

leaders or if he could sanction banks in China. This is Iran's biggest trading partner. Meanwhile, Qatar pushed for a return to diplomacy as its Prime Minister held talks in Tehran on Thursday.

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The meetings focused on the emerging deal between Iran and Oman that might lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. And we've just learned that Iran has sent the U.S. a list of its conditions for reopening that Strait. For more on all of this, we're joined by CNN's Paula Hancocks from Abu Dhabi. Good morning, first of all, to you, Paula. So we're just seeing images there of that visit by Qatar's Prime Minister to Tehran on Thursday. What are you learning about those meetings?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sam, what we've been seeing this week is a flurry of diplomatic activity when it comes to leaders in the region. Even as the U.S. is saying there are no negotiations with Iran, we saw earlier in the week Pakistani, Omani officials heading to Tehran. We've just seen the -- the Qatari Prime Minister meeting on Thursday with -- with the Foreign Minister in Iran as well.

They've said that they're trying to de-escalate and create conditions for dialog, and also to find out more about this potential temporary shipping lane that that Oman and Iran have -- have effectively agreed on. We did hear from the Iranian Foreign Minister talking about this. I'll read you part of his post on social media.

He said, "putting diplomacy back on track isn't impossible. It hinges on U.S. understanding of one simple fact: pressure doesn't work." So we are hearing from Iran that potentially diplomacy could -- could resume, but we're hearing from the U.S. pretty much the exact opposite. We heard from Karoline Leavitt of the -- the White House press secretary saying, "No negotiations are happening right now, and this will continue until the president feels that maybe they come to the table in a meaningful way. We have not seen that yet."

So the Trump Administration really pushing forward with this economic plan, this attempt to try and strangle the economy and Iran's ability to -- to bring money in. Although we -- we did hear once again President Trump being very vague on exactly what that entails, also suggesting that that he may not be speaking to foreign leaders about this, which is what the U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier in the week he was doing.

So there's still a lot more details to be heard about that. Now we've also heard from Iran's head of the -- the Supreme National Security Council talking to Lebanon TV today, saying there is a list of demands for the United States before the Strait of Hormuz can be opened, notably that the war in -- attacks against Lebron, Gaza, and Syria must end.

Also, saying that if this naval blockade continues, Iran will quote, target U.S. economic interests with full force and intensity. Salma? ABDELAZIZ: Attempts there for a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz,

while the U.S. remains vague. Our Paula Hancock's there from Abu Dhabi with the latest.

President Trump is threatening to further escalate that trade war with Canada if the U.S. northern neighbor does not back down. In the past week, the U.S. imposed 50 percent tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of Canadian goods. Now, Canada responded with matching retaliatory tariffs on Thursday, after trade negotiations between the two countries collapsed.

President Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America, effective immediately. The president has the authority to determine how the U.S. government refers to geographic landmarks, but he cannot force other countries to adopt that new name.

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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I guess the purpose of this, more than anything else, is we're going to be changing the name of Lake Ontario, effective immediately to Lake America. We can't let -- the whole Canadian thing has been going on for decades, and it has to come to a stop. So, the lake change, the Lake of America, was something I've been thinking about for a long time. The Canadian officials have treated us very badly. They're nasty people.

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ABDELAZIZ: Now, in response to that, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media that the name dates back more than 400 years, making it older than the U.S. and Canada. Mr. Carney also wrote that Canadians will call it Lake Ontario then, now, and always.

Voters in Iceland are weighing whether to move closer to the European Union. They're set to vote on Saturday on whether to restart talks to join the EU. Iceland first applied to become a member in 2009, but talks were suspended as concerns emerged about diluting Iceland's sovereignty and the possible loss of control over their fishing rights.

But U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive moves towards Greenland have, for some Icelanders brought considerations of Arctic security to the forefront.

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There's more ahead on CNN Newsroom. Nepal and China are pausing flood and rescue efforts over new threats to emergency teams and survivors. Our breaking news coverage of the catastrophe following the flooding continues in just a moment.

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ABDELAZIZ: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London. We're following breaking news this hour. The Royal House in Norway has announced the passing of King Harald V. Now we do have live pictures for you. This is from the Royal Palace in Oslo, where flags have been lowered to half-staff at age 89. King Harald was Europe's oldest monarch, spending 35 years on the throne.

He had been in poor health recently and underwent heart surgery in 2020. Harald was an avid sailor and represented his country in the Summer Olympics in 1964, 1968, and 1972. He is survived by his wife, Queen Sonja, two children, and five grandchildren. Harald is succeeded as monarch by his son.

New video into CNN, just coming in now, shows the strength of those flood waters that tore through Nepal and China on Wednesday. The river of dark, muddy waters was so powerful you can see it rolling a large boulder like it was a pebble.

This was seen about 50 miles downstream from the landslide, and it is believed to have contributed to that flooding. Authorities in Nepal and China have now announced that they're pausing their rescue efforts over the risk of new flooding and landslides in the region.

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