Nepal flood: Death toll tops 1,000 as rescue continues

A massive flash flood at the Himalayan border between Nepal and China has claimed over 1,000 lives, according to local authorities. In Nepal, 987 deaths have been reported, with nearly 4,000 people still missing. In China, 16 people have died and 546 remain missing, many of them foreign nationals. The search and rescue teams are still actively working in challenging conditions and unstable terrain.

Search dogs are also assisting in the efforts through mud, rocks, and debris left behind by the flash floods. Roads have been destroyed in some areas, limiting access to the affected regions. Nepalese authorities are also trying to locate around 500 workers believed to be trapped inside the tunnels of twelve hydropower projects.

The flash flood at the end of August started as a glacial collapse in the Himalayas, causing a powerful stream of rock, ice, and meltwater into the valleys below. This powerful stream generated a seismic event with a magnitude of 5.2. Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah highlighted the need to combat climate change, emphasizing that this incident shows the increasing risks faced in the Himalayan region due to climate change.

He urged the region to stay alert and raise awareness about climate-related disasters to the international community.