5 days ago
Nepal-Tibet Flash Flood Toll Rises as Fresh Threat Looms
A huge flood of water, mud and rocks hit Nepal near its border with Tibet.
Ice and rock from a glacier collapsed and blocked a river for a short time.
When the blockage broke, a powerful surge rushed through towns and valleys.
The floods destroyed homes, roads, bridges and parts of hydropower projects.
Officials gave different death tolls as rescuers found more bodies and updated their records.
The latest detailed government report said 538 people had died and 977 were missing.
India said 320 of its citizens could not yet be contacted, while 84 had been rescued.
Another lake formed by the debris could overflow and cause more flooding.
Nepalese and Chinese teams are searching for people and watching the lake closely.
Nepal’s reported death toll ranged from 362 to 579, with the latest detailed government update listing 538 deaths.
Nepal reported 977 missing people, while earlier updates counted more than 1,400 missing across Nepal and Tibet.
A glacial collapse and ice-rock avalanche blocked the Lhende River before releasing a destructive surge of water, mud and debris.
A barrier lake containing about 2 million cubic metres of water could receive up to 3 million more, raising fears of another flood.
India said 320 nationals remained uncontactable, while 84 were rescued and 96 crossed from the Chinese side into Nepal.
- Who
- Residents, workers, tourists, security personnel and rescuers in Nepal and Tibet were affected; Indian nationals were also among those missing or rescued.
- What
- A glacial-collapse-triggered flash flood and mudslide killed hundreds, left hundreds missing and damaged settlements and infrastructure.
- Where
- The worst-affected areas included Nepal’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and other districts, as well as Tibet’s Gyirong area and the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems.
- When
- The disaster struck on Wednesday morning, with updated tolls and rescue information reported on Thursday and Friday.
- Why
- A glacial collapse and ice-rock debris flow temporarily blocked the Lhende River before releasing a destructive surge downstream.
Initial Reports and External Assistance
Revised Findings and Nepal-Led Response
Reported scale of casualties
Initial Reports and External Assistance
Earlier reports listed 362 or 469 deaths and more than 1,400 missing across Nepal and Tibet.
Revised Findings and Nepal-Led Response
Nepal’s later detailed government update listed 538 deaths and 977 missing, reflecting continuing recovery and revised records; one report’s headline cited 579 deaths while its body cited 538.
Cause of the disaster
Initial Reports and External Assistance
Initial accounts described a possible avalanche and an event initially reported as a magnitude-4.4 earthquake or seismic activity comparable to a magnitude-5.2 quake.
Revised Findings and Nepal-Led Response
Nepalese authorities and revised United States Geological Survey analysis identified a glacial collapse and debris flow, rather than an earthquake, as the trigger.
International rescue involvement
Initial Reports and External Assistance
India and other countries offered assistance, while India coordinated evacuations and sent relief supplies.
Revised Findings and Nepal-Led Response
Reports said Nepal preferred to conduct search-and-rescue operations through its own security agencies and had not accepted international search teams at that stage.
Managing the secondary flood risk
Initial Reports and External Assistance
Nepal warned residents, travellers, security personnel and rescuers to avoid riverbanks because a barrier-lake breach could cause another surge.
Revised Findings and Nepal-Led Response
Chinese authorities said they were monitoring the lake with aerial surveys, flood simulations, risk assessments and 3D modelling while assessing the upstream blockage.
Key facts
- Reported death tolls
- Articles reported figures of 362, 469, 538 and, in one headline, 579; the latest detailed Nepal government update cited 538 deaths.
- Missing people
- Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported 977 missing people; an earlier cross-border count listed 1,468 missing in Nepal and Tibet.
- Indian nationals
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs said 320 Indian nationals remained uncontactable; 84 had been rescued and 96 stranded on the Chinese side had crossed into Nepal.
- Flood trigger
- A glacial collapse and ice-rock avalanche struck the Lhende River near the Nepal-China border, temporarily blocking it before releasing water and debris.
- Barrier-lake risk
- Chinese authorities estimated that about 2 million cubic metres of water had accumulated in a new barrier lake, with up to 3 million more potentially entering over three days.
- Infrastructure damage
- Nepal reported damage to 35 motorable bridges, 45 suspension bridges and about 40 kilometres of paved roads; hydropower projects were also damaged.
- Relief assistance
- India dispatched 47.5 tonnes of humanitarian and disaster-relief supplies, medicines and food packets to Nepal.
- Rescue operations
- Nepalese security personnel evacuated more than 800 people while helicopters, drones, heavy machinery and ground teams searched affected areas.
Quotes
Randhir Jaiswal
Spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs
“They have been in touch with their family. Our embassy has been in touch with several of them. Many of their family members also contacted us through the helpline numbers that our embassy is running in Beijing.”
thehansindia.com
“Discussed the relief and rescue efforts underway in Nepal today. Our embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing provided an updated picture in respect of the status and well-being of Indian nationals.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
Nepal-Tibet flash floods: Toll surges to 362; nearly 1,500 missing as fresh flood threat looms
Updates: Nepal flash flood toll rises to 469, MEA says 290 Indians still missing
Nepal Flash Floods: 359 Dead, 288 Indians Still Missing; India Intensifies Rescue Efforts
Nepal Flash Flood Agony Heightens… 320 Indians missing, 400 stranded on Chinese side
Nepal flash floods: Death toll hits 538, 977 people still missing including 320 Indians confirms govt
Nepal flash floods LIVE UPDATES: Death toll at 469, 290 Indians still missing
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