Death toll from Nepal-Tibet floods rises to over 600
Heavy rain is complicating an already difficult rescue effort, as hundreds remain missing three days after deadly flash floods hit the Nepal-Tibet border region.
The death toll from flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border has surpassed 600, with over 2,400 people still missing, according to Nepal's disaster agency. In Tibet, China reported seven fatalities and 554 missing individuals. Glacial collapse on Wednesday caused debris, rock, ice, and mud to surge through Himalayan mountain river systems, devastating towns and damaging hydropower plants.
Nepal's Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet reported that helicopter operations are on hold due to heavy rain, making aerial rescue efforts difficult. Rescuers are struggling to navigate through thick mud and mountain tunnels, with over 100 people believed to be trapped in the Trishuli 3A hydropower project tunnel in Nepal's Rasuwa District.
Bodies of some victims have been found hundreds of kilometers away in Chitwan District, bordering India. Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal requested specialized equipment and technical knowledge for tunnel rescue operations, while Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle estimated the cost of reconstruction at $4-$5 billion, nearly a tenth of Nepal's economy.
China halted rescue efforts in Gyirong due to flood risks but announced the threat had diminished, with satellite imagery showing a 21,000 square meter reduction in the size of a barrier lake.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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