Death toll from mudslides, flooding at Nepal-China border climbs past 670, nearly 3,000 missing
Death Toll Rises to 676 in Nepal‑China Border Floods, Rescue Operations Hampered by Weather
By [Reporter Name]
May 25, 2024
The combined death toll from the flash floods and mudslides that have devastated the Nepal‑China border region has climbed to 676, with nearly 3,000 people still missing, officials announced Saturday. The disaster, triggered by a massive ice fragment that broke loose from a glacier and plunged into the Lhende Khola River, has left the region in a state of emergency amid ongoing rain and poor visibility.
A Deluge of Ice and Water
The catastrophe began on Wednesday when a large chunk of ice broke from a glacier on the border and fell into the Lhende Khola River. The sudden influx of water and ice triggered a series of mudslides that swept across remote villages and key infrastructure. “The flood and mudslide events were caused by the breakage of a large ice mass that entered the river,” said a senior hydrologist from the Nepal Disaster Management Authority.
The debris‑laden waters rushed through the river valley, flooding homes, destroying roads, and blocking access to many of the affected communities. In addition to the immediate impact, the flooding of the Lhende Khola River has raised concerns about a previously threatening lake that had been overflowing into the river; that risk has reportedly eased, according to Chinese officials.
Rising Casualty Figures
The latest figures from Nepal’s disaster agency show 669 confirmed deaths and 2,426 people missing. Chinese authorities have reported seven deaths and more than 550 missing in the Tibet region. Together, the numbers total at least 676 fatalities and almost 3,000 people unaccounted for across the two countries.
“The death toll has increased to 669, and 2,426 people are missing,” said Nepal’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle. “This is just an estimate. Loss and damage is being assessed.”
Rescue Efforts Stalled by Weather
Rescue teams on the ground are facing significant obstacles. Heavy rain and fog have made it difficult to navigate the damaged roads and maintain communication with isolated villages. “Search and rescue operations have been temporarily halted because it is raining, and the weather is foggy,” said Narendra Pariyar, a top official for Nepal’s Rasuwa district, to Reuters.
The worsening weather is expected to persist through the weekend, adding to the uncertainty of rescue operations. The hydropower plant tunnel in the region, where up to 100 workers have been trapped in mud, remains a high‑priority target for search teams.
International Cooperation and Technical Assistance
While Nepali authorities have emphasized that they do not require additional general search and rescue personnel from other countries, they have called for specialized expertise. “We have already made requests for such specialized services and technical assistance in areas where we don't have enough expertise and technical know-how,” said Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal.
In response, China dispatched a team of five tunnel specialists from Tibet by helicopter to assist Nepali rescue efforts. The team is expected to help clear the hydropower plant tunnel and assist with other technical challenges that local teams lack the capacity to address.
Looking Ahead: Reconstruction and Recovery
The scale of the disaster has prompted discussions about the cost of rebuilding. Finance Minister Wagle estimated that Nepal will need more than $4 billion to restore damaged infrastructure and support affected communities. “This is just an estimate. Loss and damage is being assessed,” he added.
In the meantime, rescue operations continue under difficult conditions, with international partners monitoring the situation closely. The latest updates will come as weather forecasts predict intermittent rain that could further complicate the search for survivors.