The death toll from catastrophic floods and landslides across Nepal and China’s Tibet region has risen to 750, while 3,044 people remain missing.
The rescue operations are facing serious difficulties as heavy rain, rising river levels, unstable terrain and the threat of further flooding continue to affect the Himalayan region.
The disaster began after a glacier collapse near the Nepal-China border triggered a massive flow of water, mud, rocks and debris into downstream river systems on August 26.
The resulting floods devastated communities, damaged infrastructure and left thousands of people unaccounted for.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported 734 deaths, while 2,498 people remain missing.
The scale of the disaster has made identification and recovery operations particularly difficult, with authorities also recovering human remains from several flood-hit districts.
On the Chinese side of the border, authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing people in Gyirong County in Tibet.
The Chinese officials said 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries were among those missing, including citizens of Nepal, India, Latvia, the United States and Britain.
China and Nepal are coordinating efforts to identify missing citizens and foreign nationals while working together on disaster prevention, emergency response and recovery operations.
One of the biggest challenges for rescuers is the possibility that workers remain trapped inside tunnels at hydropower projects along the affected rivers. Mud, rocks and debris have blocked access to several areas, while damaged roads and bridges have further complicated rescue operations.
Nepalese officials have also identified a need for specialized assistance involving tunnel rescue, DNA testing, forensic identification and the preservation of unidentified remains.
The Rescue operations have repeatedly been disrupted by poor weather and rising river levels. A lake formed after a landslide blocked water near the Nepal-China border has also raised fears of additional flooding downstream.
More Than 90,000 People Could Be Affected
The International Red Cross estimates that more than 90,000 people may have been affected by the disaster. The destruction has included homes, roads, bridges, hydropower infrastructure and other vital facilities, leaving some communities difficult to reach.
China has mobilized more than 2,100 rescue personnel and allocated 220 million yuan for emergency relief and recovery efforts. Beijing is also providing Nepal with relief supplies, satellite and water-monitoring data and specialized tunnel-rescue expertise.
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The disaster has also renewed concerns over the growing risks posed by unstable glaciers and extreme weather in the Himalayas.
With thousands still missing, rescue teams remain engaged in a race against time.
