Thousands still missing as Nepal-Tibet flood relief and recovery intensifies
More than 1, 000 people have died and thousands are missing, with communities relying on airlifted supplies.
A week after a devastating flash flood struck the Nepal-Tibet border, thousands remain unaccounted for as relief and recovery efforts intensify. Rescuers are working tirelessly to locate survivors while simultaneously transitioning to recovery operations.
Nepal's disaster agency reports that at least 1,114 people have died in Nepal, with nearly 4,000 still missing. On the Tibetan side, Chinese state media indicates a death toll of 16 and over 500 individuals unaccounted for.
The UN's humanitarian agency has announced that the response is entering a new phase, with authorities escalating both relief and recovery initiatives. In Nepal, efforts are ongoing to rescue potentially hundreds of workers believed to be trapped within hydroelectric station tunnels.
The massive flash flood, thought to have been triggered by a glacial collapse, swept through a Himalayan valley last Wednesday, obliterating villages. Nepal's disaster management agency states that nearly 12,000 people have since been rescued. However, thousands more, including hundreds of foreign nationals from countries such as India, the UK, Australia, the US, and Malaysia, are still missing. A week later, concerns are mounting that the death toll will continue to climb.
Chinese state media has not reported any survivors on the Tibetan side of the border, though the search persists. Beijing, which annexed Tibet in the 1950s, maintains strict control over the region. All information originates from state media, and foreign journalists are prohibited from traveling there without authorization.
Rescuers, utilizing heavy machinery and working around the clock, have successfully reopened the route to the Gyirong border crossing between Nepal and Tibet and cleared the road of debris, which Chinese state media says will expedite the search for the missing.
Rescue operations are proceeding under challenging conditions, with experts from China and India assisting in the construction of temporary bridges to reach remote areas. Drones are being deployed over difficult-to-access regions to scan for survivors.
The UN's humanitarian agency has identified access as the primary challenge, with over 40 bridges having been destroyed. The most isolated communities are dependent on army helicopter flights for supplies, and villages continue to struggle with fuel and electricity shortages.
The full extent of the flood's impact in Tibet remains unclear. China has released information through state media outlets showcasing the devastation near the border but has provided limited details regarding victims or the impact on local villagers.
In Nepal, nearly 3,500 people have been rendered homeless and displaced across 27 sites, primarily schools, which is disrupting education in the districts of Nuwakot and Rasuwa. The UN's humanitarian agency states that the immediate priorities for these individuals are "receiving humanitarian assistance, recovering and identifying the remains of the loved ones, tracing missing relatives and reunifying separated children, and accessing psychosocial support."
The agency also warned that overcrowded shelters, contaminated water, and damaged health facilities are increasing the population's risk of disease amidst the monsoon season.
Nepal's Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, has emphasized a renewed focus on protecting the lives of survivors, providing medical treatment, and offering psychological counseling. The Nepalese government and the UN have agreed to launch a four-month humanitarian flash appeal.