Nepal Flood Toll Rises; Over 100 Trapped in Hydropower Tunnel

The death toll from catastrophic floods and landslides along the Nepal-China border has surged, with authorities reporting at least 584 fatalities and over 2,400 people missing. The disaster has ravaged communities, washing away homes, roads, and bridges, and isolating entire villages.

Rescue operations are ongoing, but the situation remains critical. A primary concern is the fate of over 100 workers trapped inside a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district. While the Nepalese army has rescued 350 individuals, the remaining workers are still inside, facing perilous conditions. Rescue efforts are hampered by severe weather and the powerful Bhotekoshi River, which poses a risk of further flooding should a nearby lake overflow.

The scale of the disaster has prompted an international response. India has dispatched medical teams, rescuers, and humanitarian aid to Nepal. The European Union has pledged 2 million euros in humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, the Chinese government is involved in search and rescue operations for missing persons following landslides in Tibet, a region also affected by the severe weather.

Among the missing are foreign nationals, including three Italians and an Italian-Swiss couple. Italy's crisis unit task force has arrived in Kathmandu to assist with efforts to locate its citizens. The disaster serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the region to extreme weather events, with some experts calling it a wake-up call regarding global warming.

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The disaster in Nepal is a wake-up call for global warming.