Nepal-China Border Floods: Survivors Rescued as Nearly 3,000 Remain Missing

POLICY WIRE — Nuwakot, Nepal — As the search for survivors in the aftermath of catastrophic flash floods along the Nepal-China border entered its fourth day, rescue teams continued to find and transport survivors to safety. Meanwhile, families at relief centers anxiously awaited news of their missing loved ones, as the death toll and number of unaccounted individuals continued to climb.

Nepali authorities updated their figures, revealing a combined death toll of 676 in Nepal and Tibet, with nearly 3,000 people still missing. Chinese authorities reported seven deaths and over 550 missing. Nepal’s disaster agency confirmed 669 deaths and 2,426 missing persons.

Over 3,700 people have been rescued in Nepal. In Nuwakot, one of the hardest-hit districts, helicopters delivered aid and evacuated survivors. Among the evacuees were elderly individuals and several babies, all arriving with only the clothes on their backs.

In the devastated village of Trishuli, some residents returned to salvage what they could from their homes. Shoba Shretha found her dog, Sweetie, and was seen comforting her pet. Relief coordinators later cleared the area for excavation equipment to search for more survivors.

In Kathmandu, relatives and friends gathered outside the main government hospital, searching for news of their missing loved ones. Dil Maya Lama and Nelza Moktan were among those desperately seeking information about their missing family members.

Military personnel in Nuwakot posted lists of missing people, which families scanned in hopes of finding their loved ones. Rajesh Kumar Ram searched for his son’s name, holding onto a glimmer of hope.

Search and rescue operations continued at various locations, including the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project and the Gyirong border crossing. Authorities believed over 100 people were trapped in a tunnel filled with mud at the hydropower site.

Rescuers monitored a newly formed lake in the Himalayan mountains, which had decreased in size, reducing the risk of further flooding. Images from Chinese broadcaster CCTV showed rescuers at Gyirong Port, calling out for survivors.

Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal stated that all available resources, with international support, were being mobilized for search, rescue, relief, and recovery operations. The government sought specialized assistance from neighboring countries for tunnel rescue and other critical services.

Nepal has received over 57 metric tons of relief supplies from India, with additional aid arriving from China, Japan, Australia, and other nations. Further support will be sought as need assessments continue.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)