Death toll in the recent Tibet-border flash floods further increased to 389 as hundreds of tourists are still missing. Rescue teams have accelerated efforts with heavy machinery to clear mud and debris in Nepal to recover more survivors.
The confirmed death toll reached 389, while nearly 1,000 people remained missing across Nepal and neighbouring Tibet.
Officials said a glacier collapse triggered a massive torrent of rock, ice, mud and debris through Himalayan river systems. The floods destroyed villages, roads, bridges and power stations along the route connecting Kathmandu with Lhasa. Authorities deployed helicopters to search for survivors and deliver emergency supplies to thousands stranded in remote areas.
Meanwhile, emergency workers and sniffer dogs recovered dozens of bodies carried downstream into Nepal’s plains.
Fresh Flooding Threat Raises Concerns
Nepal’s disaster management authority warned that debris blocking the Bhotekoshi River had created a rising lake.
Officials feared the lake could burst and cause another devastating flood in nearby communities.
Similarly, China warned that about three million cubic metres of water could enter an already dammed lake over three days.
The risk of a breach remains high, with peak flows expected around September 1.
In Tibet, authorities reported 558 missing people, including 260 foreigners, while three deaths were confirmed.
Furthermore, Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the devastated Gyirong area as rescue workers cleared debris from key roads.
As relief operations have been paced up, family members of missing tourists are approaching authorities to trace their loved ones.
