Nepal-China Flash Floods Kill Over 1,270; Rescue Efforts Continue

Rescue teams in Nepal are working tirelessly to reach workers trapped inside hydropower facilities, more than a week after a catastrophic flash flood devastated communities across the Himalayan region.

Last week, a cascade of rock, mud, and water, which scientists believe originated from a glacial collapse near Langtang Lirung peak, swept away villages, roads, and bridges in both Nepal and Tibet.

According to figures released by local authorities on Thursday (September 4), more than 1,270 people have been killed and over 4,700 remain missing.

Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported that 1,252 bodies have been recovered, while the total number of missing in the country stands at 4,216. Hundreds of workers are believed to be trapped inside hydropower plants, including in tunnels, near the border with China.

In Tibet, Chinese authorities have recorded 21 deaths and 541 people missing.

“We still hope there are survivors inside,” said Lieutenant Sanjay Kc of Nepal's army engineering unit, standing before excavators trying to clear the massive debris blocking the entrance to a tunnel in Rasuwa district, one of the worst-affected areas. “Because it's a very big plant inside, we think it's a large space, and we hope the whole plant isn't flooded,” he told Al Jazeera.

Many families with missing relatives continue to gather at the affected sites every morning, hoping for updates. For many, the wait is agonizing.

“I come here every day hoping to find my father,” said Pratik Rana, the son of a missing engineer. “But every day when the sun sets, I feel my hope fading... A father is important to everyone, but to me, he is a precious part of my life.”

In other affected areas, authorities are using every available tool, including zip lines and helicopters, to rescue people stranded in remote villages. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that the flood and debris flow left at least 2.2 million tonnes of debris.

In the capital, Kathmandu, forensic teams are working to identify the bodies.

Al Jazeera's Jessica Washington, reporting from a DNA testing facility in the city, said many bodies are being found in an advanced state of decomposition.

“Forensic teams on the ground tell us there are some factors that help the identification process such as tattoos and jewelry, but many of the bodies are being found so damaged that identification is very difficult,” she said.

On Wednesday (September 3), Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah said the government would continue searching for survivors while also beginning reconstruction and recovery efforts.

Dharma Raj Upreti, head of NDRRMA, told Reuters that around 20,000 homes will need to be rebuilt, with 7,500 houses completely destroyed.

“There is no point in rebuilding houses in the same locations, as it would expose people to the same risks,” Upreti said, adding that authorities are trying to find safer areas to relocate communities and build new settlements. As of Monday (September 1), the United Nations said more than 3,400 displaced people are living at 27 evacuation sites in Nuwatkot and Rasuwa, mostly in schools.

Nepal's officials have also pointed to the responsibility of major greenhouse gas emitters, who have a historical responsibility to compensate vulnerable nations like Nepal, according to Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal. He said the government has officially sent a letter requesting compensation for climate change to international partners.