Nepal Floods: Death Toll Crosses 780, Rescue Ops Continue on Day 6
Rescue operations in Nepal and China entered their sixth day on Thursday as authorities continued searching for thousands of people reported missing after flash floods and mudslides triggered by a glacier collapse in the Himalayas last week.
According to Nepal's disaster management authority, at least 781 people have been confirmed dead, while 2,502 remain missing, including 592 foreign nationals. On the Chinese side of the border, officials in Gyirong County reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing.
The disaster occurred on August 26 when a glacier collapse caused a sudden and massive flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal's Rasuwa district, which borders Tibet. The surge of water and debris swept through villages, destroying homes, infrastructure, and farmlands, and leaving a trail of devastation across the mountainous region.
Emergency teams, including military personnel and volunteers, have been working round the clock to locate survivors, clear debris, and provide relief to affected families. However, challenging terrain, damaged roads, and continuous rainfall have hampered progress, slowing down search and rescue efforts.
Local authorities have set up temporary shelters and distribution centres for food, drinking water, and medical supplies. The Nepalese government has also appealed for international assistance, with several countries and humanitarian organisations offering aid.
The flooding has also impacted cross-border trade and transport routes, as key highways and bridges in the region were washed away. Officials say restoring connectivity will take weeks, if not months, given the scale of destruction.
Experts point to climate change as a growing factor in the frequency and intensity of such glacial lake outburst floods in the Himalayas. Warmer temperatures have accelerated glacial melting, increasing the risk of catastrophic events in downstream communities.
Meanwhile, families of the missing continue to wait for news, as authorities work to compile accurate lists of victims and coordinate with foreign embassies to trace nationals who were in the area at the time of the disaster.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, and officials warn that the death toll may rise as search teams reach more remote and isolated settlements. For now, the focus remains on saving lives and providing urgent relief to those who have lost everything.
