Nepal-China floods kill nearly 800 after a glacier collapse, while more than 3,000 people remain missing and rescue teams search for survivors.
Nepal-China flood disaster: Death toll nears 800 as thousands remain missing
The death toll from devastating floods along the Nepal-China border has risen to nearly 800, while more than 3,000 people remain missing following a catastrophic disaster triggered by a glacier collapse in the Himalayas.
Rescue teams in Nepal and China are continuing efforts to locate missing people, including hundreds of workers believed to be trapped at hydropower projects in some of the worst-affected areas.
Nepal’s disaster authorities have reported 781 deaths, while Chinese authorities in Tibet have confirmed 16 deaths in Gyirong County. Bodies have also been carried downstream into neighbouring India, adding to the difficulty of identifying victims.
The disaster began after a glacier collapsed in the high Himalayas near the Nepal-Tibet border. The resulting floodwaters and landslides swept through communities along the Trishuli and Bhotekoshi river systems, destroying roads, bridges, homes and infrastructure.
More than 900 hydropower workers missing
Around 933 workers are reported missing or unaccounted for at 11 hydropower project sites and tunnels in Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.
The missing workers include people from Nepal, India, South Korea and China. Authorities have not yet established how many people are trapped at each individual site.
At the 216-megawatt Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project, Nepali security forces have rescued 254 workers. However, rescue operations at several other sites remain extremely difficult because tunnels have been filled with mud and debris.
At the 22MW Chilime Hydropower project, rescuers have struggled to enter the tunnel because of the heavy accumulation of mud. Specialist rescue teams are being mobilised to help reach workers who may still be trapped inside.
Nepal has deployed around 19,000 security personnel and 16 helicopters as part of the search and rescue operation. A joint team of soldiers, police and armed police personnel has also been working to clear blocked tunnel entrances.
India has sent medical personnel and tunnel-rescue specialists to assist with aerial assessments and rescue operations in affected regions.
Thousands remain missing
Nepal’s authorities say 2,498 people remain missing in the country. The figure includes foreign nationals, Nepali citizens travelling with them and members of the country’s security forces.
In Tibet, Chinese authorities have reported that 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries are missing. They include citizens of Nepal, India, the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and several European countries.
The full scale of the disaster on the Chinese side remains difficult to determine because access to the affected border region has been severely restricted.
Chinese rescue teams have searched large areas around the Gyirong border region using search dogs, drones and life-monitoring equipment. Hundreds of technical workers are also repairing roads and clearing debris so rescuers can reach isolated areas.
Barrier lake raises fears of another flood
Rescue operations were temporarily suspended after rising water levels in a newly formed barrier lake created by debris raised concerns about another potential flood.
Authorities later said the immediate danger had decreased, allowing rescue operations to resume. However, officials continue to monitor the lake using satellites, radar and drones.
The barrier lake is located about one kilometre upstream from the Gyirong border area. Authorities say they are prepared to warn rescuers if conditions deteriorate.
Heavy rain has also caused renewed concern along the Trishuli River. Rising water levels forced some residents and rescue workers to move to higher ground.
Roads and bridges destroyed
Rescue and relief efforts remain severely hampered by the destruction of roads and bridges. Large sections of transportation infrastructure have been washed away, leaving some communities difficult or impossible to reach.
Nepal has requested additional specialist support from India and China as authorities struggle to provide enough resources for the massive rescue operation.
China has mobilised 2,100 rescue workers and allocated about 220 million yuan ($32.7m) for disaster relief. Heavy-lift drones and helicopters are being used to transport equipment and supplies to rescuers near the border.
International assistance has also been pledged, with the United States and Canada each offering $3.6m, while the United Kingdom has pledged $6.8m. The United Nations has released $2.5m in emergency funding, while the European Union has committed $2.3m.
The disaster has caused billions of dollars in damage, with Nepal’s finance authorities estimating losses at more than $4bn.
As rescue teams continue searching for missing people, authorities face a race against time. Dangerous terrain, damaged infrastructure, unstable weather and the threat of further flooding are making the Nepal-China flood disaster one of the region’s most challenging recent rescue operations.
