Rescue teams search for survivors as debris blocking rivers raises fears of another major flood
Nepal’s flash flood death toll has risen to 359, with more than 900 people missing after flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border destroyed homes, roads and bridges and triggered continuing rescue operations.
Kathmandu: The death toll from the massive flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border has risen to 359, while more than 900 people remain missing, according to the latest Nepal Police update issued at 17:00 local time.
Rescue teams are continuing to search for survivors after floodwaters destroyed homes, inundated roads and swept away bridges in several affected areas.
The disaster has also raised concerns about further flooding, with debris reportedly blocking rivers in the affected region. Experts have warned that additional flooding could occur if blocked waterways are breached or water levels rise.
The US Geological Survey has attributed the disaster to a “glacial collapse and debris flow”, which triggered the destructive flooding.
Hundreds of Foreign Nationals Remain Missing
The disaster has left hundreds of foreign nationals unaccounted for on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border.
According to figures cited by Nepal, those reported missing include 178 tourists from India, 127 from Nepal, 65 Americans and 33 people from the United Kingdom.
Nepal has also reported missing army and police personnel as rescue and recovery operations continue.
In Tibet, at least 558 people are reportedly missing, while three deaths have been confirmed. It remains unclear whether the figures from Tibet overlap with those reported by Nepal.
The large number of missing people has complicated efforts to establish the full scale of the disaster, particularly as many affected areas remain difficult to access.
Families are also waiting for information about relatives who were travelling in the region. Two sisters whose parents had travelled from Texas to Tibet on a pilgrimage told the BBC that they were desperately waiting for news and wanted their parents to return home.
Nepal Flood Death Toll Rises Rapidly
The latest police update put the death toll at 359 as of 17:00 local time, or 12:15 BST.
The figure came around an hour after Nepal Police had reported that 332 people had died, indicating a rapid increase in the confirmed number of casualties as rescue teams recovered more bodies from affected areas.
More than 900 people are still missing in Nepal, according to the latest figures.
Rescue workers are searching damaged settlements and areas affected by flood debris while authorities continue collecting information on people who remain unaccounted for.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah Visits Flood-Hit Areas
Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah visited some of the areas worst affected by the flash floods, including Bidur and nearby communities in Nuwakot district.
During the visit, Shah met local officials, security agencies and community representatives to assess the extent of the damage and review the ongoing response operations.
The Prime Minister reportedly instructed authorities to provide immediate assistance to families displaced by the flooding, reopen blocked roads and restore damaged infrastructure as quickly as possible.
Shah later returned to Kathmandu after inspecting affected settlements.
Authorities Warn of Possible Second Flood
The continuing presence of debris in rivers has increased concerns about another flooding event in the region.
Experts have warned that river blockages caused by debris could create further risks for downstream communities if water accumulates and subsequently breaks through the obstructions.
Authorities are therefore continuing to monitor river conditions while rescue teams work in areas already affected by the initial flooding.
The disaster has caused extensive damage to transportation infrastructure, residential areas and other facilities along the Nepal-Tibet border, while the continuing risk of further flooding is adding to the challenges facing rescue and relief teams.
