Nepal issues fresh flood warning as 3,000 still missing

Nepal and Tibet reported a combined death toll of 750 in recent floods, with over 3,000 people still missing, according to authorities. A fresh flood alert was issued after river levels surged again, while Tibetan officials warned of a new barrier lake forming behind landslide debris. Scientists speculate a Himalayan glacier collapse might have triggered the disaster, sending massive amounts of water down a river valley.

Nepal's disaster authority recorded 734 deaths on its side of the border, while Chinese state media confirmed 16 fatalities in Tibet, an autonomous region of China. The Nepalese disaster agency warned residents around the Bhotekoshi River to remain on high alert as water levels continued to rise. Flood warnings were sent to residents' phones, urging them to evacuate to higher ground.

Monitoring drones detected a new lake forming near the Gyirong border port in Tibet, prompting the evacuation of rescue teams due to the risk of the barrier breaking. Nepalese rescuers are attempting to reach over 100 hydropower workers believed trapped and alive in tunnels submerged by flood debris. Rescue teams are concentrating on several hydropower projects on the Trishuli River, where more than 900 workers went missing during the floods.

Nepalese Prime Minister's office stated that teams endured continuous rainfall and challenging conditions, working nonstop overnight to search for and rescue those potentially trapped. Specialized teams from India and China joined the rescue effort, alongside Nepal's mountain rescue squad, experienced in climbing the world's highest peaks, including Everest.

Nepal's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri emphasized the country's need for assistance in areas such as tunnel rescue, DNA testing, and victim identification. The US State Department pledged $3.6 million in humanitarian aid to Nepal, including up to three months of emergency food assistance for up to 10,000 affected households. The Red Cross estimates that over 90,000 individuals may have been impacted by the disaster.