- A catastrophic flash flood hit the China-Nepal border on Wednesday, resulting in a death toll of 469 according to Nepal police.
- Over 1,300 people remain missing, including hundreds of tourists from India, the US, Britain, Australia, and Canada.
- Chinese authorities have warned of a high risk of breaching from an artificial lake formed after the flood, with inflows potentially reaching 3 million cubic meters over the next three days.
- Nepal's disaster authority has also warned of rising water levels in a debris-clogged lake, which is at risk of bursting its banks.
- Rescue teams and military helicopters are actively searching for the missing, with the Red Cross stating that about 93,000 people might have been affected and launching an emergency appeal for $31m.
- Initially, authorities in Nepal and China reported that more than 390 people were killed and over 1,400 were missing, including hundreds of foreign citizens and pilgrims.
- In Nepal, more than 500 foreign citizens were among 826 people missing, with 177 from India, 90 from the US, 39 from Australia, 33 from Britain, and 25 from Canada.
- Efforts to locate those unaccounted for have been complicated by the destruction of dozens of bridges and 40km (25 miles) of roads in the mountainous region.
Flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border have resulted in a devastating toll, with 469 confirmed dead and over 1,300 individuals missing, including many foreign tourists from countries such as India, the US, and Australia.12
Rescue operations are severely hindered by the destruction of critical infrastructure, including dozens of bridges and 40km (25 miles) of roads in the mountainous region, which is a popular destination for trekkers and pilgrims.11
The Red Cross has reported that approximately 93,000 people may have been affected by the disaster, prompting the agency to launch an emergency appeal for $31 million to assist in recovery efforts.67
Compounding the crisis, authorities have issued warnings regarding a debris-clogged river and an artificial lake formed by the floods, which is at a high risk of breaching. Chinese state media reported that inflows into the lake could reach about 3 million cubic meters over the next three days due to ongoing rainfall, raising fears of further flooding downstream.34
The situation remains dire as rescue teams and military helicopters continue their search for the missing, with the death toll and number of unaccounted individuals expected to rise as efforts progress.
“Chinese authorities warn an artificial lake faces a 'high risk of breaching' with inflows up to 3 million cubic meters over three days. The Red Cross says about 93,000 people may be affected and has launched a $31m emergency appeal.”
The Guardian
