The death toll from the floods and mudflows that struck the Himalayan region along the Nepal-China border on August 26 has risen to 1,003. According to official data from the two countries, search efforts are continuing for 4,462 people, including 844 foreigners.
987 people have died in Nepal
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority of Nepal announced that search and rescue teams had recovered the bodies of 84 more people. The death toll on the Nepalese side has therefore risen to 987.
In Nepal, 3,916 people, including 583 foreigners, remain missing. The missing include 639 personnel working at hydroelectric power plants.
Search efforts continue in China
Chinese authorities said 16 people had died on the Chinese side of the border and that search efforts were continuing for 546 people, including 261 foreigners.
According to the combined figures from the Nepalese and Chinese sides, the disaster's toll stands at 1,003 deaths and 4,462 missing people. Indian citizens make up the majority of the missing foreigners; 275 Indian and 100 Chinese citizens are among those missing.
Glacier collapse triggered floods and debris flows
The disaster began on August 26 when a glacier located at an altitude of approximately 5,200 meters on Nepal's Langtang Lirung Mountain broke apart. The ice and rock avalanche then turned into a massive debris flow that swept through valleys along the border.
Floodwaters and mudflows caused extensive damage in Nepal's Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Kavre districts, as well as in the Kathmandu Valley. On the Chinese side, the Gyirong border crossing in southwestern Tibet, which is connected to Nepal, was buried under debris.
Search and rescue operations continue under difficult conditions
Nepal requested freezer units, DNA testing kits, remote-sensing technology and drones to map search areas for use in the disaster zone after the bodies were recovered.
China, South Korea and India sent teams to support the search and rescue efforts. Rugged terrain, damaged roads and destruction to critical infrastructure are making communication difficult.
According to interviews conducted by Chinese state media with search and rescue teams, the teams reached the Gyirong border crossing after a 10-hour walk. The teams found no trace of buildings or other infrastructure on the Chinese side.
