Nepalese authorities issued flash flood warnings to residents' mobile phones on Sunday morning (Aug. 18) after water levels in the Bhotekoshi River rose, urging people in flood-hit districts to remain vigilant. Rescue teams are working to clear the main highway linking the capital Kathmandu to one of the hardest-hit areas following the catastrophic flash floods on Wednesday (Aug. 14).
The combined death toll in Nepal and China's Tibet region has climbed to 750, with more than 3,000 people still missing. Nepal's disaster management agency said the death toll in the country has reached 734, with 2,498 people unaccounted for. Meanwhile, Chinese officials reported 16 deaths and 546 missing, including over 100 Nepali citizens and nationals from more than a dozen other countries.
According to Dharam Raj Uprety, executive director of Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority, the latest warning came after Chinese authorities informed Nepal of increased water flow upstream.
Around 93,000 people in Nepal have been affected by the disaster, according to the Red Cross.
On Saturday (Aug. 17), Nepal appealed to the international community for financial aid and specialized rescue equipment, including heavy-lift drones, DNA testing kits, and cold storage for preserving bodies.
The United States and Canada announced they would each provide about $3.6 million for humanitarian assistance. Britain pledged $6.8 million in aid, while the United Nations released $2.5 million from its emergency fund. The European Union on Friday (Aug. 16) promised $2.3 million in support. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has allocated over $1 million and launched an emergency appeal to raise $31 million.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday (Aug. 16) offered assistance from Beijing.
