Death Toll Rises in Nepal-Tibet Flash Flood

A flash flood has claimed at least 360 lives in Nepal, with over 1,400 others still missing, including around 700 foreigners, according to Nepali police. The disaster was triggered by an ice avalanche from a glacier into the Bhotekoshi River, causing heavy flooding. Scientists suspect global warming may be the reason for the glacial collapse.

Nepal's mountain ranges have lost nearly a third of their ice in the past three decades due to climate change. Emergency rescue teams are rushing to the Nepal-Tibet border to search for survivors, as initial reports indicate the death toll could rise. On the Tibetan side, Chinese state media reported that at least three people have been killed and 558 others are missing, though it's unclear if these numbers overlap with Nepali figures.

Initial investigations suggest an ice avalanche caused the flash flood, which also created a large lake in Tibet that could potentially break through dammed streams and cause further destruction. Nepal's military has already rescued over 100 people using helicopters, while Chinese authorities have deployed military transport aircraft to aid evacuation and relief efforts.

However, search-and-rescue operations face challenges due to destroyed bridges and roads, scarce resources, and a lack of electricity due to damaged hydropower infrastructure. Chinese authorities have also begun censoring video content of the flood on social media, making it difficult to assess the full scale of the disaster in Tibet.

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