Nepal is intensifying relief and recovery operations following catastrophic flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border that occurred a week ago, according to the United Nations. Rescuers are working to reach anyone who may still be alive. The UN secretary-general's spokesman stated that the priority for thousands is to deliver aid, recover loved ones, trace missing relatives, and reunite separated children.
Nepal's disaster agency reports that at least 1,200 people have died and more than 4,200 are missing. On the Tibetan side, the death toll is reported at 21, with over 540 individuals unaccounted for, according to Chinese state media. Rescue efforts are ongoing for workers believed to be trapped in Nepalese hydropower tunnels.
The flash flood, believed to have been triggered by a glacial collapse, swept through a Himalayan valley last Wednesday, destroying villages. Nearly 12,000 people have been rescued, as reported by Nepal's disaster management agency. However, thousands more, including hundreds of foreign nationals from countries such as India, the UK, Australia, the US, and Malaysia, remain missing, raising concerns that the death toll may increase.
Chinese rescue teams are searching for over 500 missing individuals on the Tibetan side of the border, but they have not yet found survivors at Gyirong Port, the crossing between Nepal and Tibet. The region is tightly controlled by Beijing, which has annexed Tibet since the 1950s, limiting information flow to state media and requiring permission for foreign journalists to enter.
Rescuers are using heavy machinery and working continuously to reopen the route to the Gyirong border crossing and clear debris, which will expedite the search for missing persons, as reported by Chinese state media. Rescue operations are being conducted under challenging conditions, with experts from China and India assisting in building temporary bridges to reach remote areas. Drones are also being deployed to scan hard-to-reach locations for survivors.
The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates that access remains a significant challenge, with over 40 bridges destroyed. Remote communities are relying on army helicopter flights for supplies, while villages struggle with fuel and electricity shortages.
The full impact of the floods in Tibet remains unclear. China has released information through state media about the devastation near the border but has provided limited details regarding victims or the effects on local residents. In Nepal, nearly 3,500 individuals have been displaced and are seeking shelter in 27 locations, primarily schools, which disrupts education.
Overcrowded shelters, contaminated water, and damaged health facilities are increasing the risk of disease among the population during the monsoon season, according to OCHA.
Nepal's Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, emphasized the need to protect survivors, provide medical treatment, and offer psychological counseling. He described the disaster as having taken away many lives in an instant. Shah informed parliament that he received news of the flood at 08:45 local time on August 26, with evacuation notices issued shortly thereafter.
In response to questions about the lack of timely flood warnings, Shah stated that the disaster was beyond predictable forecasts. A report indicated evidence of growing instability around the glacier prior to the collapse, suggesting that better early-warning systems could have saved lives, according to experts from the Asian Mountain Academic Alliance, the Stimson Centre, and China's Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment.
Scientists have warned for years about the melting ice and permafrost in the Himalayas due to climate change. Shah noted that the event highlights the escalating risks faced by the Himalayan region due to climate change and called for a strong case to be presented to the international community regarding the disasters resulting from it.
Nepal has declared a disaster in 15 affected areas for three months to provide financial assistance to families of the deceased, rescue and relocate the displaced, and deploy the army. The Nepalese government and the UN have agreed to launch a four-month humanitarian flash appeal.