4 days ago
Nepal Seeks Technical Aid After Deadly Himalayan Glacier Flood
A glacier in the Himalayas broke apart and caused a huge flood of ice, rocks, mud and water.
The disaster affected Nepal and Tibet in China.
Hundreds of people have died, and more than 2,000 people are still missing.
Rescuers from Nepal and China are searching for survivors and missing people.
Nepal says its own teams can handle ordinary rescue work.
However, Nepal needs special foreign help for difficult jobs, such as rescuing people in tunnels and identifying bodies.
The floods also destroyed many bridges and communication routes.
Nepal asked India and China for temporary Bailey bridges to help reconnect affected areas.
A glacier collapse on Wednesday unleashed rock, ice, mud and debris through Himalayan river systems.
At least 586 bodies have been recovered, while reports say more than 2,000 people remain missing.
Nepal says its own teams can conduct general search-and-rescue operations.
Foreign technical help is sought for tunnel rescues, infrastructure repairs, body identification, DNA testing and body storage.
Nepal asked India and China for Bailey bridges after about two dozen bridges were destroyed.
- Who
- Nepal, China’s Tibet, Nepali and Chinese rescue teams, and the governments of Nepal, India and China.
- What
- A glacier collapse caused a deadly flood, leading Nepal to request specialized foreign technical assistance while conducting general rescue operations domestically.
- Where
- The disaster struck Himalayan river systems along Nepal’s border with China, affecting Nepal, Tibet and downstream areas including India.
- When
- The glacier collapse occurred Wednesday; the foreign minister’s comments were reported on August 29, after three days of searching.
- Why
- Nepal needs specialized expertise for tunnel rescues, damaged transport and communications links, body identification, DNA testing and longer-term body storage.
Key facts
- Disaster trigger
- A glacial collapse unleashed rock, ice, mud and debris through Himalayan mountain river systems.
- Recovered bodies
- Emergency teams had recovered 586 bodies; reports described the death toll as nearly 600.
- Missing people
- More than 2,000 people remained unaccounted for, while another report said more than 2,400 people were reported missing.
- Nepal’s rescue position
- Nepal said its own rescuers could manage general search-and-rescue operations for the time being.
- Requested technical help
- Nepal sought assistance with tunnel rescues, transport and communications restoration, body identification, DNA testing and preserving bodies.
- Infrastructure damage
- About two dozen bridges were destroyed in the disaster-hit area.
- Bridge request
- Nepal asked India and China to provide Bailey bridges.
Quotes
Samjhana Thing
A 27-year-old relative searching for her missing brother in Kathmandu
“We have already made requests for such specialised services and technical assistance in areas where we don’t have enough expertise and technical knowhow.”
firstpost.com
theprint.in
“Today is the third day and we don't know anything. Hopefully he is in a safe place, We lost everything. He is our everything.”
firstpost.com
Sources
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