The death toll from devastating flash floods along the Nepal-China border has risen to 633, while nearly 3,000 people remain unaccounted for as rescue teams continue efforts to reach communities devastated by torrents of water, mud and debris.
The disaster struck on Wednesday after a glacier collapse in the Himalayan region triggered a powerful surge that swept through settlements along the border. The floodwaters carried large quantities of mud and debris, destroying buildings, vehicles and bridges and leaving widespread damage in their wake.
Footage from affected areas showed the scale of the destruction, with powerful currents moving through communities and washing away infrastructure. Several hydropower projects were also damaged, adding to the disruption caused by the disaster.
Rescue operations in Nepal resumed on Saturday after poor weather temporarily affected helicopter operations in Nuwakot district. The interruption made it difficult for rescuers to reach some of the worst-hit areas, particularly communities cut off by destroyed roads and damaged infrastructure.
More than 3,700 people have so far been rescued in Nepal as authorities continue to deploy helicopters to evacuate survivors and transport relief supplies to communities that remain difficult to access by road.
The rescue effort has been complicated by the depth of mud left behind by the floods. Nepali army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet said some areas were covered by between 1.2 and 1.5 metres of mud, creating serious difficulties for teams searching for people who may still be trapped.
Basnet said rescuers were using ropes and baskets to reach people in areas where conventional access was impossible. The limited availability of suitable helicopter landing sites has further restricted the ability of rescue teams to move quickly between affected locations.
The continuing search comes as the number of missing people remains extremely high. Nearly 3,000 people are still unaccounted for across the affected areas, raising fears that the death toll could increase as rescue workers reach locations that have remained inaccessible since the floods struck.
The disaster has also affected communities on the Chinese side of the Himalayan border. Chinese state media reported that 554 people remained missing there, including foreign nationals who had been in the region for employment, trekking and religious pilgrimages.
The presence of foreign nationals among the missing has added another dimension to the rescue effort, as authorities work to determine the whereabouts of people caught in the sudden flooding and establish contact with their families.
Meanwhile, officials are continuing to monitor the possibility of additional flooding in the region. Authorities have warned about the threat posed by a lake that formed in the Himalayas following the glacier collapse.
The lake has raised concerns because any further instability could release another surge of water into already damaged communities. Rescue and disaster management teams therefore face the difficult task of searching for survivors while also preparing for the possibility of another dangerous flood.
The scale of the destruction has placed considerable pressure on emergency teams operating in challenging Himalayan terrain. Mud, damaged roads, destroyed bridges and limited landing areas have made it difficult to move personnel and supplies into affected locations.
Despite those challenges, rescue teams have continued working to reach people believed to be stranded in isolated areas. Helicopters remain an important part of the response, both for evacuating survivors and for delivering essential relief materials to communities cut off by the floods.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has appealed for assistance as the emergency response expands. The authority called on philanthropic organisations, development partners, civil society groups and private-sector organisations to support the search, rescue and relief operation.
The appeal reflects the growing logistical demands created by the disaster, with authorities requiring additional materials and support to sustain operations across affected communities.
The floods have caused extensive damage to infrastructure in the Himalayan region, with bridges, buildings, vehicles and hydropower facilities among the structures affected. The destruction has also made it harder for rescuers to move through some areas and for residents to receive assistance.
For families of those still missing, the rescue operation remains a race against time. Search teams are continuing to work through areas covered by thick layers of mud and debris, while authorities attempt to account for thousands of people whose whereabouts remain unknown.
The rising death toll and large number of missing people underscore the severity of the disaster triggered by the glacier collapse. With the threat of further flooding still being monitored, authorities are maintaining rescue operations while assessing the continuing risks posed by unstable conditions in the Himalayan region.
The immediate priority remains finding survivors, evacuating people from dangerous locations and getting relief supplies to communities affected by the floods. Authorities and rescue teams are expected to continue the operation as weather and terrain conditions permit.
Nepal-China Flood Disaster: Death Toll Climbs to 633 as Thousands Remain Missing
