Search Operations Ongoing in Nepal Following Severe Floods

Search and rescue operations continue in Nepal a week after flash floods caused by a glacial collapse resulted in over 1,100 fatalities and nearly 4,000 individuals reported missing. The floods, which occurred on August 26, also affected the Tibet region of China, where authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing persons. The United Nations Development Programme estimated that the disaster left approximately 2.2 million tonnes of debris. The affected areas in Nepal included 11 hydropower stations and one solar plant, all of which have ceased operations. Additionally, 15 power projects under construction, with a total planned capacity of 470 megawatts, sustained damage. Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Lo reported from Kathmandu that specialized equipment is being flown in to assist with search and rescue efforts, particularly for around 600 workers believed to be trapped in tunnels beneath the hydropower stations. Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s office stated that over 270 workers have been rescued from tunnel sites. Search operations are ongoing, with the Nepali army actively drilling and digging to reach those trapped. Foreign experts from South Korea are expected to join the efforts, following assistance from Chinese and Indian teams. Forensic experts from China and Singapore are also anticipated to arrive to aid in managing and identifying the deceased, as the situation has become increasingly challenging due to the decomposing bodies. Families have begun holding funerals for their missing relatives, despite not having their bodies present. A 2020 UN-backed study identified 47 potentially dangerous glacial lakes across Nepal, India, and China, with 31 classified as posing the highest risk of outburst. Experts have called for enhanced monitoring and early warning systems to mitigate risks to downstream communities. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has called for compensation from major greenhouse gas emitters, stating that Nepal's minimal emissions should not result in the country suffering from the impacts of global climate change. The Ministry of Finance has sent a formal climate compensation claim letter to international partners, although specific names were not disclosed.