Rescuers continue their search for survivors of the deadly floods and landslides that struck Nepal and Tibet, as the threat of new torrents complicates their efforts. Emergency teams have recovered 482 bodies after a tsunami-like wall of water and mud crashed down on Wednesday, burying homes, smashing bridges, and sweeping away vehicles. More than 1,400 people are missing, including trekkers in the Himalayas and scores of Hindu pilgrims to Tibet's sacred Mount Kailash.
New Flood Threats
The US Geological Survey attributed the disaster to a glacial collapse that triggered a vast flow of icy debris. The deluge of ice and mud caused huge pools of water to form, posing a direct threat to emergency workers. Nepali police urged rescuers to move to safe locations after receiving information that a water dam had burst again on the Tibetan side.
Rescue Operations and International Aid
In Tibet, China paused its rescue operation at the hardest-hit area of Gyirong due to the risk of renewed flooding but later resumed operations as the threat eased. Chinese President Xi Jinping offered Beijing's help to Nepal's emergency operations, promising support and aid. The Nepali military located people trapped in the Trishuli 3A hydropower project tunnel, with efforts ongoing to rescue over 100 people trapped in the area.
Impact and Missing Persons
Nepali police reported 477 deaths, while India recovered seven bodies from rivers flowing from Nepal. There are 977 people, including 517 foreign tourists, missing in Nepal. In Tibet, 558 people are missing, and five have died. Authorities evacuated 555 stranded tourists and 499 Chinese residents from Tibet. Scores of Hindu devotees from around the world are among those missing on the border, many on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.
Survivor Accounts
Survivors shared harrowing accounts of the disaster. Buddha Tamang, a worker at a dam, survived because he was inside a tunnel when the flood struck. Sivaranjani Muthunathan, travelling by bus towards the Chinese border, recorded a video of a torrent surging towards her. Logadarrsiny Raman from Malaysia lost contact with her family members who were on a pilgrimage.
