Flash floods that occurred on Wednesday on the Nepal-Tibet border have resulted in the deaths of more than 540 people, with another 1,500 reported missing. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) stated that at least 93,000 people may have been affected and are in significant need.
The IFRC fears the death toll will continue to rise as many of the hardest-hit areas remain inaccessible due to destroyed roads and bridges. David Fisher, IFRC head of delegation for Nepal, described the trauma as "enormous," with thousands of homes destroyed or significantly damaged.
The floods were triggered on Wednesday morning when a large section of a glacier in the Himalayas broke loose in Nepal’s Langtang national park. This unleashed a surge of water, mud, rock, and ice, obliterating villages and destroying infrastructure.
Rescue operations have been challenging, with teams finding bodies hundreds of miles downstream. Operations were suspended on Friday morning due to an overflowing dam of debris, increasing the risk of further flooding. Residents in Nepal's Rasuwa district were seen evacuating to higher ground.
Nepal's foreign ministry spokesperson, Lok Bahadur Chhetri, stated on Friday that the country does not currently require foreign assistance for the search and rescue operation, despite offers from several nations.