The number of people killed in the devastating floods that struck Nepal and parts of Tibet has risen to 919, with 903 deaths recorded in Nepal and 16 in Tibet, while nearly 4,800 people remain missing as rescue teams step up efforts to reach affected communities.
Nepal’s disaster authorities said 4,247 people remain missing in the country, including 592 foreign nationals. In Tibet, Chinese authorities have reported another 546 people missing, bringing the combined number of missing persons across the two regions to 4,793.
The disaster has also left hundreds of hydropower workers feared trapped inside tunnels in Nepal. Rescue teams are working to clear mud and debris from affected facilities, with assistance from specialists from India and China as authorities race against time to establish the fate of those who remain unreachable.
According to Al Jazeera, Prime Minister Balendra Shah, in a social media post late Sunday, described the situation as an “unprecedented and devastating natural disaster.” He said difficult weather, rugged terrain and continuing risks had made it challenging for authorities to obtain a complete assessment of the damage, while rescue and relief operations continued across affected areas.
More than 20,000 security personnel have been deployed for rescue and relief operations, while helicopters and heavy machinery are being used to evacuate survivors and clear blocked routes. The floods, which struck along the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday, caused widespread destruction to homes, roads and other infrastructure, with authorities also monitoring the risk of further flooding in areas affected by glacier instability.
