Rescuers claw through mud as Nepal, China flood missing toll nears 3,000

Rescuers in Nepal and China are racing against time to locate thousands of people missing after a devastating flood, resembling a tsunami, swept through the Himalayan region. The death toll is nearing 3,000, with 633 bodies recovered in Nepal and China. Rescue workers describe the mud as thick and relentless, making the rescue efforts incredibly challenging.

The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse, has left entire villages engulfed and communities short of food and water. In Nepal, 933 hydropower workers and 517 foreigners are among the missing, including trekkers and pilgrims heading to Tibet's Mount Kailash. In Tibet, seven people have died, and 554 remain missing. The situation is further complicated by fears of additional flooding, as the deluge has created dangerous lakes.

Rescue teams in Nepal are desperately trying to reach 100 people trapped in a tunnel of the Trishuli 3A hydropower project. Meanwhile, in India, seven bodies have been recovered from rivers originating in Nepal, believed to be flood victims. Hindu devotees from around the world are among those missing, as many were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. The Red Cross estimates that as many as 93,000 people may have been affected by the disaster.