Death toll from Nepal-China floods rises to 633, nearly 3,000 missing

KATHMANDU, Aug 29 - The missing persons count in the devastating flood that split open the Nepal-Tibet border region climbed near 3,000 today, as rescue teams combed through waist-deep mud for survivors. The disaster, comparable to a tsunami, slammed into the Himalayan region on Wednesday. Nepal and Chinese authorities tally 3,000 missing, while 633 bodies have been recovered.

Nepal reports 2,426 missing, including foreigners, with 626 deaths. Tibet, controlled by China, is inaccessible to foreign journalists, limiting independent reporting on the disaster's scale. China's Xinhua news agency stated 554 people were still missing, and seven had died.

Nepal's army rescue teams worked tirelessly to recover over 100 individuals trapped in multiple hydropower tunnels, a daunting task. India, with expertise in such rescues, dispatched an 11-person specialized team. China also dispatched a nine-person team to aid in the rescue efforts. The potential cost of reconstruction could reach "billions of dollars", warned Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal.

He appealed to the international community for support in conducting a loss and damage assessment. Relatives gathered at a rescue hub in Bidur, a Nepali town, anxiously scanning lists of rescued people. Kalka Sharda, searching for her son, pleaded for information, as authorities were silent.

India is intensifying monitoring of Himalayan glaciers bordering China and Nepal following the deadly flood, reportedly triggered by a glacial collapse. "Considering our shared border with Nepal and our similar geographic conditions, we've instructed our department to monitor all glaciers and glacial lakes in the region," said Madan Kaushik, the disaster management minister of India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.

Aid from Nepal has poured in, with 93,000 people potentially affected, according to the Red Cross. The country appealed for international financial aid and specialized rescue assistance, like heavy lift drones, DNA testing kits, and body freezer storage units. Canada pledged C$5 million (RM14.5 million) in humanitarian aid, while the EU committed €2 million (RM9.3 million). Chinese President Xi Jinping offered Beijing's assistance.