Nepal and Tibet floods leave hundreds dead and thousands missing

Massive flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall and suspected glacier melt have caused a humanitarian catastrophe across the border regions of Nepal and Tibet. Death tolls have risen significantly, with reports indicating at least 633 fatalities, including 626 in Nepal and 7 in China.

Thousands remain missing. In Nepal, approximately 2,326 people are unaccounted for, including 517 foreign tourists from various nations such as India, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Mexico, and Brazil. In China, 554 people are reported missing. A major concern involves 933 workers missing at the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric plant near the border, though some survivors have been located within the facility's tunnels.

Rescue operations face extreme difficulties due to damaged roads, difficult terrain, and the risk of secondary flooding caused by newly formed lakes from debris and landslides. The Red Cross estimates that the disaster has affected up to 93,000 people. Authorities remain on high alert as unstable terrain and ongoing heavy rains threaten further surges of water and mud.