Death toll from Tibet landslides rises to 804, nearly 3,300 missing

Devastating landslides and flash floods along the China-Nepal border have claimed 804 lives and left nearly 3,300 people missing, according to authorities and local media. In Nepal, 788 bodies have been recovered, while 2,742 remain missing, including numerous foreign nationals. Chinese officials reported 16 deaths and 546 people still unaccounted for.

Rescue efforts are ongoing for 2,498 missing individuals, including 933 hydropower workers, 589 foreign nationals, 127 Nepalis traveling with tourists, and residents from affected districts. Nearly 20,000 security personnel have rescued 8,186 people, with helicopter operations evacuating 279 workers and 227 foreign nationals. Relief operations have begun, with food, medical teams, and government aid distributed.

The disaster struck the region on Wednesday when a sudden glacial collapse sent a surge of water and debris through Himalayan valleys, destroying villages and severely damaging infrastructure. Authorities are struggling to preserve evidence and find space for the dead as mortuaries reach capacity, with decomposing remains further complicating identification.

The US pledged over $3.6 million in humanitarian aid for Nepal, providing emergency food assistance for up to 10,000 households. Nepal has requested specialized assistance for tunnel rescues, survivor-detection technology, forensic analysis, and equipment to preserve recovered bodies. An Indian tunnel rescue team has arrived to support operations, and Chinese officials reported that a newly formed lake in the Himalayas has significantly shrunk, easing concerns of an immediate new flood.