Floods Near Nepal-China Border Result in Over 700 Deaths and Thousands Missing

More than 3,000 people remain missing days after floods triggered by a collapsed glacier near the China-Nepal border. The death toll has risen to at least 734, with thousands unaccounted for following the disaster on Wednesday. Rescue efforts are ongoing to locate over 900 missing workers at hydropower projects in central Nepal. Authorities from Nepal and the Tibet region of China have reported a total of just over 3,000 missing individuals, with some bodies washing ashore in India. The flooding and landslides, caused by a glacier collapse in the Himalayas, buried villages along the Trishuli and Bhotekoshi river systems. On Friday, rising water levels in a newly formed lake prompted a temporary halt to search efforts due to fears of a second flood, but operations resumed when the threat was deemed manageable. Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu reported that Chinese authorities are monitoring the barrier lake closely using satellites, radars, and drones. As of Sunday morning, around 933 individuals are missing, according to the Independent Power Producers’ Association, with workers from Nepal, India, South Korea, and China among those unaccounted for. Nepal's Prime Minister's office stated that a rescue team is working to clear debris from a tunnel where workers are trapped. A joint team of 82 personnel, including members from the Nepali Army and police, has been deployed to expedite rescue operations, although adverse weather conditions have complicated efforts. Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai reported that 19,000 security personnel and 16 helicopters have been mobilized for search and rescue. Videos on social media show soldiers attempting to rescue workers at the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project, where 254 workers have been rescued. However, challenges persist at other sites, such as the Chilime Hydropower project, where access is hindered by mud. India has sent a team of medical personnel and tunnel-rescue specialists to assist in the rescue efforts. The death toll from the floods has reached 734, with local morgues struggling to accommodate the increasing number of bodies. Authorities are facing difficulties in storing and identifying the deceased due to a lack of refrigeration. Unidentified bodies have been sent to various hospitals for preservation. In Tibet, authorities reported 16 fatalities in Gyirong County. As of Sunday morning, 2,498 individuals remain missing in Nepal, including 589 foreigners. In Tibet, 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries are reported missing. Al Jazeera’s Yu noted that obtaining information about the situation in China is challenging due to restrictions on foreign journalists. Chinese authorities are working to repair roads blocked by flooding and landslides. Nepal and China are collaborating to identify missing individuals, but efforts are hampered by destroyed infrastructure. On Sunday, rising water levels in the Trishuli River prompted further evacuations. Al Jazeera’s Allawi reported that authorities have not yet initiated the second phase of relief operations due to difficult terrain and resource limitations. Nepal’s finance minister estimated losses from the disaster at over $4 billion. The government has requested assistance from India and China to enhance rescue operations. Nepalese journalist Rojita Adhikari emphasized the impact of climate change on the disaster, stating that the country is suffering from the consequences of global leaders' inaction. China has mobilized 2,100 rescue workers and allocated 220 million yuan ($32.7 million) for relief efforts. International aid has arrived from various countries and organizations, with the US and Canada each pledging $3.6 million in humanitarian aid.