Death toll in Nepal surpasses 500

The number of fatalities in Nepal and Tibet following a sudden flood has climbed to at least 543, according to official figures released two days after the disaster. Nepal's disaster response service confirmed 538 deaths, highlighting the severity of the event.

In addition to the confirmed fatalities, over 1,400 people are still unaccounted for, with a significant number of them being foreign nationals. The scale of the disaster has prompted widespread concern and rescue efforts.

Scientists analyzing satellite imagery have proposed a likely cause for the catastrophic flood. They theorize that a large rock mass detached from a mountainside high in the Himalayas, dislodging a section of a subglacial lake. This event, known as a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), sent a massive volume of water and debris downstream.

The surge of rock and meltwater dramatically increased river levels in the valleys below, unleashing a devastating flood that impacted communities and infrastructure. The disaster serves as a stark reminder of the geological and climatic risks present in the Himalayan region.