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

Rescuers in Nepal and China were racing to locate thousands of people missing after a devastating flood submerged entire villages in the Himalayas. At least 734 individuals were killed, with 2,498 still missing, according to Nepal's disaster authority. Rescue efforts had entered their fifth day as the Nepali army worked to rescue workers potentially trapped in a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric site.

Chinese state media reported 16 fatalities and 546 missing in Tibet, bringing the overall death toll to 750 and 3,044 people missing. The flooding was attributed to glaciers melting due to climate change, increasing the risk of such disasters. UN climate chief Simon Steill emphasized the fragility of mountain environments.

Survivors faced a dire wait to learn about their loved ones, and the prospect of rebuilding their lives from scratch. The disaster affected over 100 workers believed trapped in tunnels at the Trishuli 3A and 3B hydroelectric sites. The exact cause of the collapse remained unclear, but climate change was cited as a contributing factor.

Nepal's disaster authority listed 933 hydropower workers among the missing, along with 517 foreigners, including trekkers and Hindu pilgrims. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union pledged humanitarian aid, while the UN provided emergency funding. Nepal's economy was already strained, with Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal estimating the reconstruction cost to run into billions of dollars.

He appealed for specialized assistance, including heavy-lift drones and forensic testing kits to identify bodies.

The deluge of ice and mud created large lakes, posing a risk of further flooding. Rescue operations in Tibet faced temporary pauses due to the risk of additional flooding from a newly formed lake. Across the border in India, officials recovered seven bodies from rivers flowing from Nepal.