The death toll from the devastating floods that struck the Nepal-China border region on Wednesday has climbed to nearly 800. Authorities in both Nepal and the Tibet region of China report that more than 3,000 individuals remain missing, with some victims discovered as far away as India. The disaster was triggered by a massive glacier collapse high in the Himalayas, which caused widespread landslides and buried villages.
Rescue operations are currently focused on locating over 900 workers trapped at hydropower project sites in central Nepal. According to the Independent Power Producers’ Association, approximately 933 people were unaccounted for as of Sunday morning, including staff at 11 different hydropower sites and tunnels located in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. These workers include citizens from Nepal, India, South Korea, and China.
The search has been hampered by extreme conditions, including mud-filled tunnels and destroyed infrastructure. At the 216-megawatt Upper Trishuli-1 project, Nepali soldiers have been documented wading through deep mud, successfully rescuing 254 workers. However, efforts at other sites, such as the 22-megawatt Chilime Hydropower project, have faced significant obstacles. Baburaj Maharjan, executive director of the Chilime Hydropower Company, noted that rescue teams have been unable to enter the site because the tunnel is completely filled with mud.
To accelerate the recovery, the government has prioritized clearing debris from tunnel entrances. A joint task force of 82 personnel, comprising 62 members of the Nepali Army and 20 from the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police, has been working continuously. Across the region, Nepal has mobilized 19,000 security personnel and 16 helicopters to support the search. Additionally, an 11-member team of Indian medical personnel and tunnel-rescue specialists arrived on Saturday to assist with aerial assessments and extraction operations.
The situation remains precarious due to the formation of a barrier lake upstream near the port of Gyirong, which has prompted fears of secondary flooding. While Chinese authorities indicated that the immediate risk has been reduced, they continue to monitor the area using satellites, radar, and drones. Officials have stated that if the lake’s condition deteriorates, they expect to provide at least 30 minutes of warning to rescue teams operating downstream.
The scale of the humanitarian crisis has prompted a significant international response. China has committed 2,100 rescue workers and allocated at least 220 million yuan ($32.7m) for relief efforts. The United States and Canada have each pledged $3.6m in humanitarian aid, while the United Kingdom has offered $6.8m. Furthermore, the United Nations has released $2.5m in emergency funding, the European Union has pledged $2.3m, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an emergency appeal for $31m, having already allocated $1m.
Identification of the deceased has become a logistical challenge. The Kathmandu Post reports that local morgues are reaching capacity, forcing authorities to distribute unidentified bodies to 21 different hospitals across various districts. Nepal’s foreign minister has acknowledged the difficulty in managing the identification process given the high number of casualties. In China’s Tibet region, officials confirmed 16 deaths in Gyirong County as of Saturday evening.
The missing population includes a diverse group of individuals. In Nepal, the 2,498 people reported missing include 589 foreigners, 127 Nepali citizens traveling with them, 45 army personnel, and 27 police officers. On the Chinese side, authorities reported that 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries are missing, including 104 Nepalis and 49 Indians. Access to the worst-hit areas in China remains difficult, with technical teams utilizing heavy machinery to slowly repair roads blocked by the disaster. The report also notes that on Friday, rising water levels in a new lake formed by the build-up of debris prompted a temporary halt to search efforts amid fears of a second flood. The report also notes that rescue operations resumed after the lake threat was deemed manageable. The report also notes that katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, said that Chinese authorities say the risk seems to have been reduced, but it has not disappeared. The report also notes that radars, and drones,” she said, adding that “authorities are confident that if the situation around the barrier lake should deteriorate, they will be able to give notice of about 30 minutes to rescuers below”, they are closely monitoring using satellites. The report also notes that “After complaints emerged that people were trapped inside the tunnel, the government prioritised the deployment of a rescue team and has been advancing the work to clear the entrance by removing debris and rubble,” Nepal’s prime minister’s office said late on Saturday. The report also notes that however, with adverse weather conditions persisting in the area, the rescue efforts have become quite challenging,” the statement added. The report also notes that the army has rescued 254 workers there.
