Himalayan flood death toll rises to at least 633, including missing Latvian citizens
A glacier collapse triggered devastating floods across Nepal and Tibet, killing at least 633 people while nearly 3,000 remain unaccounted for as rescuers face renewed flood danger.
The US Geological Survey has said the disastrous flooding in the Himalayan region was triggered by a glacier collapse that unleashed a massive flow of ice debris. For Nepal, this is the deadliest disaster since the 2015 earthquake.
The ice and mud flows have also formed huge new lakes, one of which now directly threatens rescue teams searching for survivors. Nepali police ordered all rescuers to move immediately to safe ground after reports that a water dam on the Tibetan side had burst again.
Chinese authorities were forced to temporarily halt rescue operations on Friday in the hardest-hit Gyirong county in Tibet due to a renewed flood risk, resuming work once the danger eased.
Death toll and missing
Nepal reported on Saturday that 626 people had been found dead within its territory, while contact could not be made with 2,426 people, including 517 foreign nationals. Latvian citizens are among those reported missing.
Indian authorities said seven bodies had been recovered from rivers flowing out of Nepal and are believed to be flood victims.
Seven people have died in Tibet, with 554 still missing, including 260 foreigners, China's state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday morning. Authorities have evacuated 555 tourists and 499 Chinese residents from Tibet so far.
In total, nearly 3,000 people remain unaccounted for across China and Nepal combined.
