In the aftermath of a catastrophic flood that struck the Nepal-China border region, rescue teams from both nations are working around the clock to save lives and locate those still missing. The disaster, which saw a wall of water sweep through the area, has left more than 1,400 people unaccounted for and at least 552 confirmed dead.
On Friday, professional rescue teams from China's Tibet and Sichuan regions reached the core rescue site, marking the first arrival of specialized help. The teams, comprising six members from Tibet and 15 from Sichuan, along with a rescue dog, were reported by Chinese state media to have arrived at approximately 4:30 pm local time.
Nepal's police have updated the death toll to at least 547, while Chinese state media confirmed five deaths on the Tibet side, bringing the overall total to 552. The number of missing persons remains over 1,400, including hundreds of foreigners. Nepal issued a warning to move to higher ground after a dam in Tibet reportedly burst, though it remains unclear if this is the same debris dam that Nepalese authorities warned had broken.
In response to the disaster, Nepal has appealed for international financial assistance but asserted that it is managing without foreign rescue teams for now. 'It is not that we will not need help, but our security network is capable and working effectively right now,' said foreign ministry spokesman Lok Bahadur Chhetri. 'If Nepal needs any specialised help or expertise, then we will request it.'
Chinese President Xi Jinping offered Beijing's help on Friday. Meanwhile, rescuers have managed to evacuate 555 stranded tourists from Tibet, in addition to 499 local residents. The Nepali military is also working to rescue people trapped in the Trishuli 3A hydropower project tunnel, where efforts are ongoing to bring out more than 100 people still inside. In India, authorities reported recovering seven bodies from rivers flowing from Nepal, believed to be flood victims.
