The death toll from catastrophic floods near the border between Nepal and China has risen to nearly 800, according to Al Jazeera. The disaster was triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in the Himalaya mountains, which sent a destructive torrent of mud and water sweeping through communities in Nepal and the autonomous Tibet region of China.
Death Toll Approaches 800 Following Border Disaster
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the confirmed death toll reached 781. Chinese authorities in Tibet reported that 16 people died in Gyirong County. Search operations have also recovered bodies washing up downstream in neighboring India.
Thousands Missing Across Nepal and Tibet
Authorities from Nepal and Tibet have placed the total number of missing individuals at just over 3,000. As of Sunday morning, 2,498 people remained missing in Nepal alone. The missing include 589 foreign nationals, 127 Nepali citizens traveling with them, 45 personnel from Nepal’s army, 27 from the police force, and 13 from the armed police force.
Separately, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that 558 people were missing in Tibet, including 260 foreign nationals. Among those missing in the border region were 65 U.S. nationals, according to Hikmat Singh Ayer, CEO and senior director of the cbsnews.com report citing the Nepal Tourism Board. Additionally, a community liaison for the Isha Foundation stated that about 80 participants in its pilgrimage were missing, with several individuals caught while crossing the Gyirong Port immigration complex.
Hydropower Projects and Rescue Operations
Rescue efforts have focused heavily on remote and hard-hit areas in central Nepal, particularly within the Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts. According to the Independent Power Producers’ Association, approximately 933 workers are missing or unaccounted for across 11 hydropower project sites and tunnels.
The government prioritized deploying rescue teams to clear debris and blocked tunnel entrances where people were reportedly trapped. A joint team comprising 62 personnel from the Nepali Army and 20 from the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police was deployed to expedite search operations, successfully rescuing 254 workers at one site.
However, rescue efforts face severe hurdles at other locations. Baburaj Maharjan, executive director of Chilime Hydropower Company, noted that entering the 22MW Chilime Hydropower project tunnel was impossible because it was filled with mud, prompting plans to mobilize a rock-climbing rescue team.
International Response and Aid
Governments and international partners have mobilized assistance in response to the crisis. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that U.S. officials spoke with Nepalese leaders to offer support, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a $500,000 grant directed to Catholic Relief Services alongside deploying an adviser to assist response efforts.
India dispatched an 11-member team consisting of medical personnel and tunnel-rescue specialists to conduct aerial assessments in the Chilime and Langtang regions.
Domestically, local infrastructure is strained by the scale of the casualties. According to Al Jazeera, unidentified bodies have been sent to 21 hospitals across different districts for preservation and identification due to a shortage of refrigerators to store the dead.
