More than 1,400 people are missing and at least 538 have died following devastating flash floods in Nepal and Tibet
Flash floods, caused by a glacier collapse, swept away entire villages and left hundreds of foreign tourists unaccounted for. Authorities are warning of the risk of a second flood.
Rescue teams continued Thursday to search for more than 1,400 people missing following the floods and landslides that struck the border between Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet, AFP reported. The disaster has left at least 538 dead.
In Nepal, authorities confirmed at least 538 deaths, while hundreds of people remain missing, including more than 600 Nepalese and foreign tourists. On the Tibetan side, Chinese state media reported three deaths and hundreds more missing, including more than 260 foreign nationals.
Authorities have ordered rescue teams to evacuate due to the risk of further flooding.
Among the unaccounted-for travelers are visitors and pilgrims from the United States, India, Australia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, and South Korea. There have also been reports of possible missing persons from Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and Ukraine.
Entire villages wiped out
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the disaster was caused by the collapse of a glacier, which triggered a violent surge of water, mud, and debris. The flood surged down the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, sweeping away homes, buses, and cars.
David Fisher, the representative in Nepal for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, stated that "entire villages and market areas have been wiped out."
The Nepalese Army is conducting aerial surveys and has rescued dozens of people, while residents of areas near the rivers have been evacuated. However, rescue efforts are proceeding with difficulty due to the accumulation of mud and debris.
World
US Embassy mobilizes assistance while searching for dozens of its citizens following devastating floods in Nepal
Andrés Ignacio Henríquez
Risk of another flood
Chinese President, Xi Jinping, ordered efforts to be focused on locating the missing. For his part, the Dalai Lama said he is praying for the victims and called for "appropriate relief measures" to be taken. The United States announced $500,000 in aid to respond to the emergency.
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