Nepal flood death toll rises to 1,357 as rescuers scour tunnels

Nearly two weeks after the devastating flood in Nepal on August 26, the death toll has surged to 1,357, with 5,326 people still unaccounted for, according to the country's disaster authority. Rescue efforts have persisted for 14 days following the glacial and mountain collapse near the China-Nepal border, which destroyed roads, bridges, and homes. In China, 43 fatalities have been confirmed, and 519 individuals remain missing, raising the global death count to 1,400 and the number of missing persons to 5,845.

Nepali rescuers are concentrating their search on three hydropower projects, where they suspect trapped workers. Among those missing are numerous hydropower employees. However, the rescue of two Nepalis from tunnels on Friday and a Chinese man on Saturday has sparked optimism that other individuals might still be alive. Dharam Raj Uprety, the chief of Nepal's disaster authority, confirmed that the search and rescue operation remains ongoing, emphasizing their determination to find survivors.

Foreign experts, including professionals from China, India, and South Korea, are collaborating with Nepali teams.

The situation has become dire, with mortuaries overwhelmed and hundreds of bodies interred in mass graves after DNA samples were collected for future identification. Climate change is exacerbating the risk of such disasters, as it accelerates glacial melt worldwide. Nepal, a rural nation of 30 million people that has contributed minimally to greenhouse gas emissions, has estimated that reconstruction could cost billions of dollars.

David Fisher, from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, highlighted the challenges of reaching isolated communities due to "narrow and hazardous" access routes. He stressed that every delay prolongs the urgent need for support from affected families.