The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has climbed to 547, as confirmed by officials. Rescue teams are diligently searching for those still missing in the Himalayan border region.
The disaster hit on Wednesday, unleashing a powerful surge of water through communities near the Nepal-Tibet border. This surge destroyed homes, roads, and critical infrastructure.
An aid worker described the situation in Nepal as chaotic but expressed hope that some people reported missing might still be found alive.
More than 100 foreign nationals have been rescued, despite earlier reports indicating over 500 were missing.
Ongoing Rescue Efforts
Rescue missions continue in Tibet, where Chinese state media announced that five people had died and more than 558 were missing. It remains unclear if some of these figures overlap with those reported in Nepal.
Chinese authorities have resumed rescue operations near the Nepal-Tibet border after a temporary halt due to concerns over a newly formed lake created by rising floodwaters.
Officials feared this lake might overflow and lead to another wave of dangerous flooding.
Meanwhile, the family of a missing British national has made an appeal to local authorities for help in finding her.
“Please help us find her,” pleaded the brother of one missing Briton.
Glacier Collapse Instigates Flood Wave
Local officials reported to the BBC that a collapsed glacier triggered the massive flood wave.
This surge reportedly swept through homes and roads, causing extensive destruction and damaging a major crossing along the Nepal-Tibet border.
The extent of the destruction has heightened concerns about the risk of further flooding in the affected area.
David Fisher, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) delegation to Nepal, expressed deep concern about the potential for secondary flooding.
“We’re very concerned about the secondary flood,” Fisher remarked during a press briefing.
He estimated that around 93,000 people might have been impacted by Wednesday’s disaster.
Red Cross Initiates Emergency Appeal
The IFRC has initiated an emergency appeal for CHF 25 million, which is approximately £23 million or $31 million, to aid immediate lifesaving efforts.
The organization stated it had activated its global network to assist with the humanitarian response and offer support to communities hit by the floods.
As rescue operations continue and hundreds remain unaccounted for, emergency teams are racing against time to locate survivors and deliver aid to those affected by the catastrophe.
