Nepal floods: Rescuers search for over 2,400 missing in Nepal and China

Rescue efforts are intensifying in Nepal and China as the number of people missing following devastating floods surpasses 2,400. The disaster struck after a massive flow of water and debris, described as tsunami-like, inundated numerous villages. The catastrophic event has claimed hundreds of lives, with victims tragically swept away by the powerful currents, some reaching as far as India.

Search teams are working tirelessly amidst thick mud, navigating treacherous conditions and facing the constant threat of further flooding. Authorities in Nepal have added 933 hydroelectric sector workers to the list of the missing, which already included climbers and pilgrims en route to Mount Kailash in Tibet. In Kathmandu, desperate family members are gathering at hospitals, searching for any news of their loved ones, with posters of the missing plastered on walls.

This disaster is considered the deadliest in Nepal since the 2015 earthquakes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS attributes the event to a glacial lake outburst that triggered the massive debris flow. The inundation also led to the formation of several large lakes, one of which now poses a direct threat to rescue teams operating in the affected areas.

Adding to the peril, Nepalese police urged all rescue personnel to evacuate to safe locations after receiving reports of a dam breach in the Tibet region. While China initially suspended rescue operations in Gyirong on August 28 due to flood risks, state broadcaster CCTV reported that a debris-formed lake had overflowed, though water levels later receded, allowing operations to resume. Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged Beijing's support for the emergency response efforts in Nepal.

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This is the third day and we still don't know anything. Hopefully, he is in a safe place. We have lost everything. He is everything to us.