Kathmandu: The death toll in the catastrophic flash floods that struck the Nepal-Tibet border rose on Thursday to 392 people, as rescue teams waded through mud searching for more than 1,400 missing. Experts warned of the risk of further floods a day after the devastating tsunami-like wall of freezing water and mud wiped out towns under a torrent of sludge.
According to France24.com, the disaster was caused by a glacial collapse, as reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS), which triggered a vast flow of icy debris. Climate change has been identified as a contributing factor, with melting glaciers worldwide increasing the risks of glacial lake floods and collapses. Emergency teams are racing to rescue survivors, while Nepali soldiers employ sniffer dogs to locate bodies buried under the debris.
Many of the missing are foreign tourists, including trekkers in the Himalayan nation and numerous Hindu pilgrims to Tibet's sacred Mount Kailash. The Nepali police have recovered 389 bodies, while 910 people, including 517 foreign tourists, remain out of contact. Beijing reported that 100 Chinese citizens are also missing in Nepal, not accounted for in the initial tally.
The disaster's impact extends into China, where state media reported a "mudslide disaster" at the Gyirong Port in Tibet, claiming three lives and leaving 558 people, including 260 foreigners, missing. Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the affected area to oversee relief efforts, while the region remains largely inaccessible to foreign journalists.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah urged the nation to "stand together" following the disaster and has been actively involved in overseeing relief operations in the hardest-hit areas. Nepali authorities are working to provide immediate relief to displaced families and to clear blocked roads.
The flash floods, described as an "inland tsunami" by environmental historian Ruth Gamble of Australia's La Trobe University, traveled nearly 170 kilometers south into Nepal. The Dalai Lama expressed his condolences and prayers for those affected, while Chinese officials mobilized a significant rescue effort.
The USGS clarified that the event, initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, was a glacial collapse and debris flow. Fears of more floods persist, with water trapped by debris blocking the valley, prompting warnings from authorities about potential further flooding.
Hindu devotees from around the world are among the missing, with Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru highlighting the gravity of the situation in an emotional message. Kathmandu's Flood Forecasting Division issued a "special notice," urging caution due to a growing lake behind debris left by the landslide.
The international community has begun to respond with promises of aid and assistance as the region grapples with the scale of this devastating event.