Nepal-Tibet Flash Floods: Death Toll Tops 470, Glacial Lake Threatens to Burst
Theo Al Jazeera English
The death toll from flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border has topped 470, with nearly 1,500 missing. Rescue operations are on hold amid fears of a glacial lake bursting.
The death toll from flash floods that ravaged Nepal and the Tibet region of China has surpassed 470, while rescue efforts continue on both sides of the Himalayan border.
Nepal's Prime Minister's Office confirmed on August 16 that 469 people had died and 977 remained missing. China reported at least 3 deaths in Tibet and 558 people missing.
According to Nepalese officials, among the missing are 644 foreigners. Around 1,550 people have been rescued alive.
The disaster occurred on August 14 when a glacier collapse triggered a massive debris flow that swept down river valleys in the Himalayas, burying villages and destroying roads, bridges, and hydropower plants.
Bishal Nath Upreti, chairman of Nepal's Disaster Management Center, described the situation as "extremely difficult" for those trapped in the disaster zone, with no road access. "Nearly 42 kilometers of roads are completely destroyed; apart from helicopters, rescue forces cannot get in," he said.
About 800 people have been rescued by helicopter and around 700 by road. Aid supplies are being airlifted to residents. "They are desperate. More than 72 hours have passed, and people really need shelter and food," Upreti added.
Nepal has mobilized 30,000 security personnel for search operations in remote valleys. China has deployed about 500 military and paramilitary personnel and sent Premier Li Qiang to oversee the rescue campaign.
Risk of Glacial Lake Outburst
Rescue operations are complicated by fears that secondary floods could affect the disaster zone. Authorities from both countries have warned of a newly formed glacial lake on the Nepal-China border that is unstable and could burst.
A glacial lake forms when floodwater or landslides block a river, trapping an ever-increasing volume of water behind a natural dam of earth and rock. Chinese authorities warn the lake holds about 2 million cubic meters of water and is expected to receive an additional 3 million cubic meters in the next three days.
Rescue teams and military personnel attempting to reach the Gyirong border crossing, where buildings are buried under 1.5 meters of mud, have been ordered to pause operations due to the risk of mudslides.
Awaiting Answers
Nepal's Foreign Ministry stated on August 16 that the country does not need international search assistance. "Offers of help are natural. Our security forces are carrying out search and rescue operations. We currently do not need such support," spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said.
However, Nepal has appealed for other forms of aid, such as cash, given the enormity of the task. At Tribhuvan University Hospital in Kathmandu, many people gathered to seek information about missing relatives. "Everyone is waiting for answers, waiting for a glimmer of hope, and right now hope is hard to find," Al Jazeera reporter Minelle Fernandez reported from Kathmandu.
