Authorities in Nepal have issued a warning about potential new flooding and advised residents in flood-affected regions to stay vigilant after a rise in water levels in the Bhotekoshi River. Early on Sunday, flood alerts were sent to people’s mobile devices as rescue teams worked on clearing a major highway linking Kathmandu to an area severely impacted by the catastrophic floods on Wednesday, which resulted in the deaths of over 800 individuals and left more than 3,000 missing in Nepal and Tibet.
The recent alerts followed communication from Chinese authorities to their Nepalese counterparts regarding increased water flow upstream. The Chinese state news agency Xinhua, citing the Ministry of Water Resources, reported the draining of a newly formed lake post the Wednesday floods in the mountains. However, emphasis was placed on monitoring a crater located 5.6 kilometers upstream, holding approximately 1.4 million cubic meters of water, which still posed some risk.
As per Nepal’s disaster agency, the death toll had risen to 788 with 2,502 individuals missing, while Chinese authorities disclosed 16 casualties and 546 missing persons on their side of the border. Among the missing were hundreds of individuals from various countries who were in the area for work, mountain visits, or religious purposes. In Tibet, Chinese state media noted that 261 foreigners were missing, including over 100 Nepalis and others from different nations.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand shared on social media that a previously missing Canadian had been found safe. However, 31 Canadians still remain unaccounted for, with the number subject to change as more information surfaces. Families in Canada, like Seema Rawla’s, expressed distress as they sought assistance from the government amid the uncertainty surrounding their missing loved ones, including requesting the provision of resources to aid in the search efforts.
Efforts are ongoing to rescue individuals at five hydropower projects, with a significant operation at the Upper Trishuli complex where approximately 350 people may be trapped inside a tunnel. Nepali troops, along with specialists from China and India, are engaged in the rescue missions. In heavily affected regions like Dhading, residents are slowly returning to damaged homes, salvaging what they can amidst the devastation caused by the floods.
The flash floods that occurred last Wednesday were triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayan region, leading to a series of destructive events impacting Tibet and Nepal. Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the country’s vulnerability to climate change impacts, underscoring the urgent need for global action to address this pressing issue. While experts refrain from directly linking the recent disaster to global warming, the accelerated warming in the Himalayas due to human-induced activities raises concerns about the heightened risk of such calamities in the region.