Death toll from Nepal, Tibet floods, landslides rises to 750, over 3,000 remain missing

​​​The death toll from devastating flash floods and landslides in Nepal and China’s Tibet region has risen to 750, while more than 3,000 people remain missing, according to the latest figures released by authorities and local media on Sunday.

In Nepal alone, 2,498 people are still missing, including hundreds of foreign nationals. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing in Tibet.

Search and rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate the missing in Nepal. Among those unaccounted for are 933 workers at hydropower projects, 589 foreign nationals, 127 Nepali nationals traveling with foreign tourists, and residents of several affected districts, according to local sources.

Nearly 20,000 security personnel have been involved in rescue operations, successfully evacuating 8,186 people. Helicopters have also been used to bring 279 hydropower workers and 227 foreign nationals to safety.

Relief efforts are continuing across the affected areas, with authorities distributing food and essential supplies, deploying medical teams, and providing cash assistance to victims, Nepal News reported.

The disaster struck the China-Nepal border region on Wednesday after a sudden glacial collapse triggered a powerful surge of water and debris through Himalayan valleys. Villages were destroyed and major infrastructure was severely damaged, leaving families desperately searching for relatives who remain missing.

As the search continues, authorities are also facing difficulties in handling and identifying recovered bodies. Hospital morgues are reaching capacity, while some recovered remains have begun to decompose.

The United States announced more than $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance for flood-hit Nepal on Saturday, including emergency food aid for up to 10,000 affected households.

Nepal Police spokesperson Deputy Inspector General Abi Narayan Kafle told The Kathmandu Post that the long distances over which floodwaters carried bodies have made identification particularly challenging.

“Many remains were found as mutilated, partial or severed remains, making visual identification extraordinarily difficult,” Kafle said. He added that many bodies had remained buried under thick mud and water for two to three days.

The rugged Himalayan terrain, steep mountains and narrow gorges have further complicated search and rescue operations. Nepal has requested specialized assistance for tunnel rescues, survivor-detection technology, forensic and DNA analysis, as well as equipment to safely preserve recovered remains.

An 11-member tunnel rescue reconnaissance team from India has already arrived in Nepal to assist with the ongoing operation.

Authorities are also closely monitoring a newly formed lake in the Himalayas that had raised concerns about the possibility of another major flood. Chinese officials said the lake has significantly shrunk and is now “essentially drained” after releasing its water naturally, easing fears of an immediate new surge.

Source: Anadolu Agency