Rescuers scour Nepal flood debris as risk of fresh flooding grows

Rescue teams in Nepal are using heavy machinery to sift through mud and debris in towns devastated by a flash flood two days prior. Hopes of finding survivors are diminishing as officials focus on mitigating the risk of further flooding.

The confirmed death toll in Nepal has climbed to 389, with nearly 1,000 people missing in Nepal and neighboring Tibet. The disaster was triggered by a glacier collapse on Wednesday, which sent a massive torrent of rock, ice, and mud cascading through Himalayan river systems. The flood destroyed power stations, roads, and bridges, impacting a vital route connecting Kathmandu with Lhasa in Tibet, a popular area for trekkers and pilgrims. At least 540 of the missing are foreign nationals.

“

All of our people have gone. They are dead. I have no one left waiting for me. Everything and everyone is gone. The end.

Authorities deployed helicopters to search for survivors and deliver emergency supplies to thousands stranded in towns and valleys. Emergency services, some with sniffer dogs, have recovered dozens of bodies. One survivor, Dibga Tamang, described the devastation in the hard-hit town of Rasuwa, stating, "All of our people have gone. They are dead. I have no one left waiting for me. Everything and everyone is gone. The end."

Adding to the crisis, a lake formed by debris blocking the Bhotekoshi River is rising and poses a significant risk of bursting. On the Chinese side of the border, an estimated 3 million cubic meters of water is expected to flow into an already dammed lake over the next three days, with peak flow anticipated around September 1. Chinese state media cited the water resources ministry warning, "The volume of water is continuing to increase, and so is the risk."

“

The volume of water is continuing to increase, and so is the risk.