Death toll rises in Nepal after devastating floods, new warnings issued

The death toll from catastrophic floods in Nepal and Tibet has surged to nearly 470, as authorities issue stark warnings of further disaster with heavy rainfall anticipated in the affected regions.

Nearly two days have passed since a massive ice mass broke off from a glacier, unleashing a colossal wave of mud, water, and ice along the Nepal-Tibet border. The destruction is extensive, with countless buildings, kilometers of roads, and numerous bridges lost. The Red Cross estimates that at least 50,000 households have been impacted.

Rescue efforts are severely hampered by the treacherous terrain, forcing rescue workers to navigate mountains, destroyed infrastructure, and debris, all while contending with adverse weather and power outages. The danger is far from over, as local authorities have alerted the public to the potential for additional landslides and the risk of overflowing water masses, particularly concerning a dam formed in the Gyirong border area.

Despite the challenges, some progress has been made. On Thursday evening, 350 people were rescued from a tunnel near the Trishuli River, which belongs to a hydropower plant. The military led this operation and continues efforts to extract another 100 individuals still trapped within the tunnel. Additionally, rescue teams have reached the crucial Gyirong Port border crossing, which had been completely blocked, facilitating the evacuation of stranded tourists and locals.

International support is being mobilized, with various countries offering assistance and working to deliver essential aid to the disaster zone. However, the ongoing threat of further floods and landslides, coupled with the vast scale of destruction, underscores the immense challenge ahead for Nepal and Tibet.

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We are very concerned about the risk of new floods, while the authorities are working very, very hard to open blocked roads and reach the communities that have not yet received much help.