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Nepal Floods Leave 165 Dead, Over 1,300 Missing After Glacier Collapse
🇷🇸 Serbia /Disasters & Emergencies

Nepal Floods Leave 165 Dead, Over 1,300 Missing After Glacier Collapse

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Flash floods and landslides in Nepal have killed at least 165 people, with 826 reported missing, according to the country's disaster management authority.
  • The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse, has also affected Tibet, where three people died and 558 are missing, including 260 foreigners.
  • Among the missing are hundreds of foreign nationals, including Indian pilgrims, Americans, Australians, Britons, and Canadians, with rescue efforts complicated by infrastructure damage.

Nepal is grappling with the devastating aftermath of flash floods and landslides that have claimed at least 165 lives and left over 1,300 people missing. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority confirmed the grim toll, as rescue teams desperately search for survivors in the border region with China.

Hydrological monitoring indicates exceptional speed and magnitude of the flood wave.

— Experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain DevelopmentDescribing the intensity of the flood wave that surged through the Trishuli River.

The disaster was triggered by a massive glacier collapse, sending torrents of water and mud through steep valleys crucial to the region's economy. Drone footage reveals widespread destruction, with roads obliterated and buildings submerged in cement-colored water. The impact is particularly severe in Nepal's Nuwakot district, where upper floors of buildings are buried in mud and vehicles are trapped.

Hundreds of foreign nationals are among the missing, many of whom were on pilgrimages or trekking expeditions. This includes 133 Indian citizens en route to Mount Kailash, 47 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons, and 24 Canadians. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that at least 34 Australians are unaccounted for, and the country is coordinating humanitarian aid with Nepal and international organizations.

Lende Kola has caused floods twice in 14 months, this time triggered by an ice-rock avalanche from a glacier on the Nepalese side of the border that blocked the river and released a sudden surge downstream.

— Saswatga SanjalExplaining the specific mechanism of the flash flood and its recurrence.

Malaysia also reported 55 of its citizens missing in Kathmandu, with infrastructure disruptions hindering communication efforts. The floods have halted travel in several areas, exacerbating the challenges faced by both locals and foreign tourists. The U.S. Geological Institute initially reported a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, later revised to 5.2, but experts believe the glacial collapse was the primary cause, unleashing a powerful flood wave that raised water levels in the Trishuli River by nine meters in just 30 minutes.

The Himalayas are warming.

— Saswatga SanjalHighlighting the link between climate change and such disasters.
About this summary

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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