Nepal-Tibet flood death toll nears 400 as search continues for 1,400 missing
The death toll from devastating flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border has climbed to 392, while rescuers continue searching for more than 1,400 people still missing, including many foreign tourists.
Rescue operations continued Thursday in Nepal and Tibet following flash floods and landslides that swept away entire villages a day earlier. The confirmed death toll has risen to 392, while more than 1,400 people remain unaccounted for across the region.
The US Geological Survey determined the disaster was triggered by a glacial collapse that unleashed a massive flow of ice and debris. The event was initially recorded as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, but further analysis of seismic data revealed it was actually a glacial collapse and debris flow. Experts note that glacier melt driven by climate change is increasing the risk of such glacial lake outburst floods worldwide.
Nepali police have recovered 389 bodies, while 910 people, including 517 foreign tourists, remain out of contact. China separately reported 100 of its citizens missing in Nepal. Indian nationals make up the largest group of missing foreigners, while the US reported 90 of its citizens unaccounted for. Missing foreigners also include citizens of Australia, Britain, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa and South Korea.
On the Chinese side, at the Gyirong Port in Tibet, officials reported three deaths and 558 people missing, including 260 foreigners. Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the affected area Thursday to oversee relief efforts, while nearly 800 emergency workers, along with sniffer dogs and speed boats, have been mobilised in Tibet.
Fears of a second flood
Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah toured some of the worst-hit areas Thursday, instructing local authorities to provide immediate relief to displaced families and clear blocked roads. Experts warn that debris blocking a river on the Nepal-China border has created a growing lake, raising fears of a second flood. Kathmandu's Flood Forecasting Division issued a special notice urging caution over the rising water levels behind the debris.
Among the missing are numerous Hindu pilgrims returning from the sacred Mount Kailash in Tibet, who were caught in the floods near a border immigration post. The Dalai Lama offered his condolences to those who lost loved ones.
