- The death toll from the catastrophic flooding in Nepal has risen to 616, with 2,301 people injured and about 2,500 still unaccounted for on both the Nepali and Chinese sides of the border, including dozens of Americans and other foreign nationals.
- At the Chinese border crossing at Gyirong Port, rescue officials reported no sign of survivors, with the flood wave leaving no discernible outline of any structures. Chinese rescuers arrived Friday afternoon at the land port, over 3,800 meters above sea level, and found buildings largely flattened, with no survivors found so far.
- As the 72-hour “golden window” of disaster survival closes, families at the T.U. Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu wait for news, with the list of survivors treated at the hospital remaining at 31. Desperate families have taped posters with photos and phone numbers, including appeals for two young boys, Dorje Tamang and Dimey Wangchu Shyangba.
- Rescue operations are underway from a barracks at Trishuli, which has become the nerve center. On Friday, seven military and seven civilian helicopters made more than 200 trips and rescued about 900 people. In Kathmandu, medicine and other relief materials are being sent to flood-affected areas, with helicopters ferrying medicine, food, clothes, mattresses, and body bags.
- On the ground in Nepal, communication is down, and mud and debris are blocking roads, making it difficult for survivors and rescuers to traverse the devastation. Rain is loosening the mud, making walking difficult, and there is constant fear of further floods.
- Health officials said residents of a Nepali village wiped out by the flooding are in dire need of support. The WHO is assessing needs and responding to the government of Nepal, including providing emergency kits with health supplies, tents, and other items arriving via Kathmandu.
- More rain could be coming for flood-affected areas in Nepal, with light to moderate rain falling in parts of Gandaki, Bagmati, and Lumbini provinces. Authorities are closely monitoring a glacial lake that has been swelling, as both bodies of water sit upstream of the area where hundreds were killed.
- Survivors recount harrowing escapes: Italian photographer Stefano Lotumolo described a big sound of death everywhere and having about 30 seconds to a minute to escape his bus; Ganesh Bale is searching for his wife, Daya Ganesh Bale, who was swept away when the flood leveled Hotel Kailash; Abisha Dhital awaits news of her friend Mukesh Nepal, a geologist missing after the landslide; and a mother, Matti Maya Tamang, was relieved to find her children alive after two days, with her son Zoyal Ghale having survived by climbing trees.
The death toll from the catastrophic flooding in Nepal has risen to 616, with over 2,500 individuals still missing, including foreign nationals. Rescue operations are ongoing, but conditions remain perilous.1
2,301 people have been injured and are receiving treatment, as authorities struggle to reach the worst-hit areas due to blocked roads and ongoing rain.
Health officials report dire needs in affected regions, with the WHO providing emergency kits and supplies.
Families are facing a grim reality as the 72-hour “golden window” for survival closes, with many desperate for news of their loved ones.4
“Time is crucial. Every hour they’re there without someone, the chances these guys survive is diminishing,” said Ganesh Bale, whose wife is among the missing.10
Rescuers are battling extreme conditions, with reports of no survivors found at the Chinese border crossing, where a massive flood wave obliterated structures.
“The buildings within the mudslide’s impact zone have largely been flattened,” said Liu Maolin, a rescue team leader.
As rescue efforts continue, more rain is expected, raising concerns of further flooding. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, urging the public to exercise caution.
“Rescuers at Gyirong Port found no survivors, with buildings flattened and no discernible outline of structures. The 72-hour golden window for survival closes Saturday, as families at T.U. Teaching Hospital await news of loved ones, including two young boys.”
