Authorities in Nepal issued warnings of potential fresh flooding on Sunday and advised residents in flood-affected areas to stay vigilant as water levels surged in the Bhotekoshi River. Flood alerts were sent to people’s mobile devices early Sunday while rescue teams worked to clear a critical highway linking Kathmandu to an area severely impacted by the devastating floods last Wednesday, claiming the lives of at least 800 individuals and leaving over 3,000 missing in Nepal and Tibet.
The recent alerts followed information from Chinese authorities to their Nepalese counterparts regarding increased water flow upstream, as stated by Dharam Raj Uprety, the head of Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. According to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, a newly formed lake from the previous floods in the mountainous region had largely emptied. However, the ministry cautioned that a crater located 5.6 kilometers upstream, holding around 1.4 million cubic meters of water, still posed some risk and necessitated close monitoring.
The death toll in Nepal rose to 788 with 2,502 individuals missing, while Chinese authorities reported 16 fatalities and 546 missing persons on their side of the border. Among the missing were numerous individuals from various countries who were in the area for work, tourism, or religious purposes. Canadian officials confirmed that a Canadian previously reported missing had been found safe, but 31 Canadians remain unaccounted for.
Efforts are underway to rescue individuals trapped in tunnels at five hydroelectric projects, including a significant operation at the Upper Trishuli complex where approximately 350 people are believed to be stuck. Nepali troops, along with experts from China and India, are conducting rescue operations. Families in Canada with missing loved ones have been advocating for more assistance from the government, including sharing resources like thermal and infrared cameras with Nepal.
Residents in flood-affected villages expressed frustration over frequent alarms and challenges in accessing essential services due to destroyed bridges and power outages. The catastrophic flash floods were triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayan region, leading to devastating consequences in Tibet and Nepal. Nepal’s foreign affairs minister highlighted the urgent need for global action on climate change, emphasizing Nepal’s disproportionate vulnerability to its effects. Scientists underscored the potential link between global warming and the increased likelihood of such disasters, particularly in rapidly warming regions like the Himalayas.