A week after a catastrophic flash flood swept through a Himalayan valley, over 1,100 people have died and thousands remain missing along the Nepal-Tibet border. Nepal's disaster agency reports at least 1,114 deaths in Nepal and nearly 4,000 missing. On the Tibetan side, Chinese state media indicates 16 fatalities and over 500 people unaccounted for.
The UN's humanitarian agency has stated that the response is now in a new phase, with authorities intensifying relief and recovery operations. In Nepal, efforts are ongoing to rescue potentially hundreds of workers believed to be trapped in hydroelectric station tunnels. Nearly 12,000 people have been rescued in Nepal, but fears are growing that the death toll will rise.
Rescuers are working around the clock in challenging conditions, using heavy machinery to re-open the route to the Gyirong border crossing and clear debris. Experts from China and India are assisting in building temporary bridges to reach remote areas, and drones are being deployed to scan for survivors. The UN agency highlighted access as the main challenge, with over 40 bridges destroyed.
Remote communities are relying on army helicopter flights for supplies, and villages are still struggling with fuel and electricity. In Nepal, nearly 3,500 people have been displaced and are living in 27 sites, mostly schools, which is disrupting education. Nepal's government and the UN have agreed to launch a four-month humanitarian flash appeal.