Authorities in Nepal have issued a warning about potential new flooding on Sunday and advised residents in flood-affected areas to stay vigilant as water levels in the Bhotekoshi River have risen. Flood alerts were sent to residents’ mobile phones early Sunday while rescue teams worked on clearing a key highway connecting Kathmandu to one of the hardest-hit regions by Wednesday’s disastrous floods, resulting in around 800 fatalities and over 3,000 individuals missing in both Nepal and Tibet.
The recent alerts followed a notification from Chinese authorities to their Nepalese counterparts regarding increased water flow upstream. The Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that a newly formed lake after the floods had mostly emptied, but a crater holding an estimated 1.4 million cubic meters of water 5.6 kilometers upstream still posed a risk and required careful monitoring.
As of Sunday, Nepal’s disaster agency reported a death toll of 788 with 2,502 individuals missing, while Chinese authorities confirmed 16 fatalities and 546 people missing on their side of the border, including numerous foreigners visiting the region for various purposes. Canadian authorities confirmed that a previously missing Canadian was found safe, yet 31 Canadians remain unaccounted for.
Efforts are ongoing at multiple hydroelectric projects, with a significant operation at the Upper Trishuli complex where approximately 350 individuals may be trapped in a tunnel. Around 10,000 Nepali troops are engaged in tunnel rescue operations, supported by specialists from China and India. Families in Canada with missing loved ones in Nepal are urging the government to provide resources and assistance, including thermal and infrared cameras for search operations.
Residents in flood-affected villages expressed challenges in dealing with continuous alarms and the aftermath of destroyed bridges, leaving communities stranded and access limited. The flash floods were triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayan region, causing devastation in Nepal and Tibet. Nepal’s foreign affairs minister emphasized the country’s vulnerability to climate change impacts, calling for global action to address the disproportionate effects faced by Nepal due to minimal global emissions contributions. Scientists highlighted the increasing risk of such disasters in the Himalayas as the region warms at a faster rate than other parts of the world due to human-induced global warming.
