Australia struggles to locate 39 citizens missing in Nepal floods

Devastating floods and landslides have struck Nepal's Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river regions, leaving at least 392 people dead and 1,400 others missing as of Thursday evening. Among the missing are 290 Indians, including workers from the Trishuli-I project. Rescue teams are still searching for survivors, and the death toll is expected to rise further.

China's Ministry of Water Resources has issued a fresh flood warning due to a barrier lake near the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers that could breach and cause a second flood threat downstream. The lake contains approximately 2 million cubic meters of water, and if the natural debris barrier collapses, the water could rush towards Nepal, exacerbating the disaster.

Nepal was hit by flash floods on August 26, particularly in the Rasuwa district near the Nepal-China border. The floods destroyed homes, roads, bridges, and infrastructure. Nearly 300 Indian tourists are reported missing, with 178 Indian nationals still unaccounted for according to the Nepal Tourism Board. Other affected foreign nationals include people from Australia, Britain, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, and the US.

The US Geological Survey attributed the floods to a glacial collapse and debris flow, which triggered seismic activity. The Trishuli River surged by up to nine meters in 30 minutes on Wednesday, sending mud, ice, and rocks 170 kilometers through seven Nepali districts. A mudslide also hit Gyirong in Tibet, burying roads under over two meters of soil.

India has sent 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance, including essential medicines, to Nepal. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that India will provide all possible aid to Nepal, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's discussions with Nepal's leadership. The US has also offered assistance, with US President Donald Trump describing the destruction as unprecedented. The US State Department reports that 90 Americans are missing, and $500,000 in emergency assistance has been pledged for affected communities.