Kathmandu: The death toll from catastrophic flash floods along the Nepal-China border has crossed 600, while rescue teams continue searching for thousands of missing people as operations entered their fourth day on Saturday.
The disaster struck on Wednesday after an ice and rock avalanche triggered massive floods and landslides across parts of Nepal and Tibet. Entire settlements, roads and infrastructure were damaged, leaving families waiting anxiously for news of missing relatives.
Bad weather slows rescue efforts
Poor weather has hampered helicopter operations in Nepal, forcing authorities to temporarily suspend some aerial missions. Rescue workers and military personnel, however, continue searching through thick mud and debris at several locations.
At the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, more than 100 people are believed to be trapped inside a tunnel filled with several feet of mud. Rescuers have been using ropes and baskets while facing difficult access conditions.
Thousands remain unaccounted for
Nepal’s disaster management authorities have reported 626 deaths and 2,426 people missing in the country. Including seven deaths and hundreds missing in Tibet, the overall toll has risen to more than 600, with nearly 3,000 people still unaccounted for.
More than 3,700 people have been rescued in Nepal so far. The missing include workers, trekkers, pilgrims and foreign nationals who were travelling through the region.
Fresh flood fears complicate search
Rescue operations have also been complicated by fears of further flooding after a new lake formed in the Himalayas following the initial disaster. Although its water level has fallen, authorities remain alert to possible dangers for rescuers and communities downstream.
As rescue teams continue their difficult search, families across Nepal and neighbouring regions remain hopeful that more survivors will be found amid the devastation.