Nepal-China flood death toll exceeds 1,000; Nepal PM demands climate action

Devastating floods on the China-Nepal border have claimed at least 987 lives in Nepal, taking the total death toll across the disaster to over 1,000. Chinese state media reported 16 victims in Tibet, bringing the cumulative toll from Wednesday's disaster to 1,003. In Nepal, 3,916 people are still missing, while 546 are unaccounted for in China.

The missing include 583 foreigners from over 30 nationalities in Nepal and 261 foreigners from 23 countries in China. Indians are one of the largest groups of missing foreigners, with 275 missing in Nepal and 128 in India. The United States has reported 85 missing citizens, with 62 Ukrainians, 51 Malaysians, 42 Australians, and 33 British citizens also listed as missing.

In India, 17 bodies were recovered from rivers originating from Nepal, believed to be flood victims, but these are not included in the toll. Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the deadly Himalayan flood as "not an ordinary event" driven by climate change, urging international action. He emphasized that the risks in the Himalayan region are increasing with climate change, as glaciers are melting faster due to rising global temperatures.

Nepal, a rural nation of 30 million people, has contributed little to the emissions causing global warming but is suffering its consequences. The Himalayan glaciers provide crucial water sources for millions of people in the mountainous and surrounding regions. Nepal's government is seeking international assistance, with over $42 million in aid pledged following the disaster, and neighboring countries India and China are aiding in rescue efforts.