Nepal-Tibet Flood Toll Climbs to 165 as Over 1,000 Remain Missing
The death toll from the devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border has risen to at least 165, while more than 1,000 people remain missing.
Rescue teams are searching for survivors after torrents of water, mud and debris swept through communities in the mountainous region on Wednesday.
The disaster destroyed homes, roads, vehicles and other infrastructure, leaving several areas cut off and without electricity. (The Guardian)
Many of those missing are foreign nationals, including tourists and pilgrims travelling through the region.
Nepalese authorities reported hundreds of people missing on their side of the border, while Chinese authorities also reported hundreds unaccounted for in Tibet.
Among those missing are nationals from India, the United States, Australia, Britain and Canada. Many were travelling to Kailash Mansarovar, a sacred site in Tibet.
The flooding was initially linked to a possible earthquake, but the US Geological Survey later determined that the seismic activity came from collapsing rock and ice associated with a glacial collapse. (The Guardian)
A preliminary assessment indicated that an ice-and-rock landslide blocked the Lhende River, triggering the massive debris-filled flood.
Survivors described scenes of devastation as the rushing water carried away vehicles, buildings and people.
Rescue operations involving helicopters, soldiers, emergency workers and sniffer dogs are continuing despite difficult conditions.
International agencies and governments have also begun providing assistance as authorities race to locate missing people and support those displaced by the disaster.
Officials have warned that further flooding could occur if debris remains blocking waterways upstream.
The full scale of the destruction is still being assessed as search and rescue operations continue across the affected areas. (The Reuters)
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