Death toll from Nepal floods hit 579, 1,924 missing
The death toll from the devastating flash floods triggered by a glacier collapse in Nepal has risen to 579, with 1,924 people still missing, as rescuers race to find survivors amid fears of further flooding in the Himalayan region. The disaster, which struck northern Nepal and adjoining Tibet on Wednesday, has affected more than 90,000 […] The post Death toll from Nepal floods hit 579, 1,924…
A catastrophic flood in Nepal has claimed 579 lives, leaving 1,924 people still missing, as rescue efforts intensify to locate survivors in the wake of a glacier collapse. The disaster, which struck northern Nepal and adjacent Tibet on Wednesday, has impacted over 90,000 individuals, causing extensive damage to roads, bridges, and essential infrastructure.
At least 540 foreign nationals, including tourists and pilgrims, are among those reported missing, with casualties from countries such as India, China, the United States, Malaysia, Ukraine, Britain, Australia, and Canada.
Rescue operations resumed on Friday after a temporary halt due to concerns about a lake formed by flood debris potentially bursting and causing further devastation. Nepalese authorities confirmed the threat had diminished, allowing search and rescue teams to return to the affected areas, though two upstream barrier lakes are still under surveillance for possible flooding.
Triggered by a massive glacier collapse, the flood unleashed a torrent of rock, ice, mud, and debris into Himalayan river systems, engulfing villages and reducing homes, roads, bridges, and power installations to rubble. The route connecting Kathmandu with Lhasa in Tibet, a popular destination for trekkers and pilgrims, including those heading to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, has been severely affected.
Among the missing, at least 558 people remain unaccounted for in Gyirong County, China, including 260 foreigners. In Uttar Pradesh, India, ten bodies believed to have been swept downstream from Nepal were recovered. The disaster has strained local facilities, with emergency responders struggling to manage the influx of recovered bodies and identify victims. In Bharatpur, a government building has been converted into a temporary mortuary as existing morgues and hospitals cannot cope with the scale of the casualties.
Over 3,700 people have been rescued thus far, including those trapped inside a tunnel at a hydroelectric project under construction. The international community has responded with assistance, with India, China, the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh offering search-and-rescue help, although Nepal has not yet requested foreign rescue teams.
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