4 days ago
Nepal Flood Toll Rises as Rescue and Relief Continue
Severe flash floods and mudslides struck Nepal and Tibet after a large flow of rock, ice, mud and water moved through Himalayan rivers.
In Nepal, officials reported 626 deaths and nearly 2,000 people still missing.
Rescue teams have evacuated thousands of people, including visitors from several countries.
Nepal has sent more than 11,000 security workers to search for survivors and provide help.
The floods damaged homes, roads, bridges and hydropower facilities.
Nepal says it can handle ordinary rescue work but needs foreign experts for difficult technical tasks.
India and China have been asked to provide temporary Bailey bridges, and an Indian team arrived to help.
Tibet reported seven deaths and 554 missing people, while its authorities continued evacuations and searches.
Nepal’s reported flood death toll reached 626, with nearly 2,000 people still missing.
Rescuers evacuated 2,465 people in Nepal, including 163 foreign nationals, while more than 11,000 security personnel were deployed.
Nepal said it needs specialized foreign assistance for tunnel rescues, bridge replacement, communications, body identification and DNA testing.
The Mugling-Kathmandu highway reopened, while Nepal’s disaster relief fund reached Rs 4.09 billion.
Flooding in Tibet killed seven people and left 554 missing, according to Chinese authorities.
- Who
- People in Nepal and Tibet were affected; Nepalese security forces, Chinese responders and foreign assistance teams are involved.
- What
- Flash floods and mudslides caused hundreds of deaths, widespread destruction and ongoing rescue and relief operations.
- Where
- The disaster affected central Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region near the Nepal border.
- When
- The floods struck on Wednesday, with major toll and response updates reported on Saturday.
- Why
- A glacier collapse unleashed rock, ice, mud and debris through Himalayan river systems, damaging settlements and infrastructure.
Nepal-Led Rescue Strategy
International Specialized Assistance
Who should conduct general rescue operations
Nepal-Led Rescue Strategy
Nepal said its own security forces were best placed to handle general search and rescue because they understood the rugged terrain and local conditions.
International Specialized Assistance
Several countries reportedly offered to send search-and-rescue teams, arguing that international responders could contribute additional capacity.
Role of foreign assistance
Nepal-Led Rescue Strategy
Nepal said foreign teams in unfamiliar terrain could complicate coordination and create additional risks, and that general rescue operations did not require outside teams.
International Specialized Assistance
Nepal accepted or requested foreign help for specialized tasks, including tunnel rescues, bridge construction, communications restoration, body identification and DNA testing.
Key facts
- Nepal death toll
- The latest report said 626 people had died; another report cited 616 deaths.
- Missing in Nepal
- Nearly 2,000 people remained missing; an earlier official figure was 1,924.
- Tibet toll
- Chinese authorities reported seven deaths and 554 missing people in Tibet.
- People evacuated
- Nepal evacuated 2,465 people, including 163 foreign nationals.
- Rescue deployment
- More than 11,000 security personnel, including over 5,000 Nepal Army personnel, were deployed.
- Rebuilding estimate
- Nepal’s Finance Minister estimated reconstruction costs at $4 billion to $5 billion.
- Relief fund
- Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund had a balance of Rs 4.09 billion.
Quotes
Swarnim Wagle
Nepal’s finance minister
“International assistance was not rejected but that the rescue strategy was decided based on national capacity, immediate need and Nepal's unique geographical situation.”
livemint.com
“We have already made requests for such specialised services and technical assistance in areas where we don't have enough expertise and technical knowhow”
livemint.com
telegraphindia.com
Zou Mingqi
A Chinese rescue official describing conditions in the flood-hit area of Tibet
“As far as I can see, it’s nothing but debris”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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