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Grim Milestone Amidst Ongoing Rescue Efforts
The death toll from the devastating flash floods that tore through the Nepal-Tibet border region last week has risen to 750, with more than 3,000 people still missing, authorities said on Sunday . The catastrophe, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse, has unleashed a torrent of rock, ice, mud, and debris, wiping out entire communities, bridges, and vital infrastructure .
By Sunday, Nepal alone had reported 734 confirmed deaths and 2,498 missing . On the Chinese side of the border, in Tibet’s Gyirong County, authorities confirmed 16 deaths with 546 people unaccounted for . The Red Cross estimates that more than 90,000 people have been affected by this disaster, which scientists have linked to the accelerating effects of climate change on Himalayan glaciers .
‘High Risk’ of Second Flood Halts Operations
Rescue operations have been severely hampered by volatile weather and the continuing threat of a second major flood. A new barrier lake, formed when the initial glacial debris dammed a river, has accumulated a massive 2.5 million cubic meters of water . Chinese authorities have warned of a “high risk” of this lake breaching, which could unleash a second wave of destructive flooding downstream . While water levels in the lake have since “dropped slightly,” allowing rescue efforts to resume, the situation remains precarious . Heavy rain and fog have intermittently forced the suspension of helicopter operations, complicating efforts to reach survivors in the steep, narrow gorges .
The Search for Foreign Nationals and the Need for Specialized Aid
Among the missing are hundreds of foreign nationals from over 20 countries. On the Chinese side, the breakdown includes 104 Nepalis, 49 Indians, 33 Latvians, 18 Americans, and 15 British nationals . Many were pilgrims, trekkers, or workers at hydropower projects in the region .
While Nepal has declined general search-and-rescue assistance, stating its own forces can handle the primary effort, it is urgently seeking specialized foreign technical support . The government has requested international assistance for critical tasks such as rescuing workers trapped in tunnels, restoring destroyed transport links, identifying decomposing bodies, and conducting DNA testing . Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has also stated a preliminary estimate of $4 billion to $5 billion is needed for the country’s massive reconstruction effort .
