Authorities in Nepal have issued fresh flood warnings as rescue and recovery efforts continue following catastrophic floods that killed at least 788 people and left thousands missing across Nepal and Tibet.
Nepal's disaster management authorities warned residents of potentially fresh flooding on Sunday, urging people in affected districts to remain vigilant after water levels rose in the Bhotekoshi River. The alert came after Chinese authorities notified their Nepalese counterparts of increased upstream water flow. The warnings added to the strain on survivors already exhausted by repeated alarms since Wednesday's initial catastrophe, which originated from a glacial collapse high in the Himalayan region.
The scale of devastation continues to grow as rescue operations proceed. Nepal's disaster agency confirmed 788 deaths with 2,502 people missing, while Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing on their side of the border. The missing include hundreds of foreign nationals from over a dozen countries who were working, trekking, or on pilgrimage in the region. Chinese state media reported 261 foreigners missing in Tibet alone, including more than 100 Nepalis and others from around the world.
In hard-hit areas like Dhading district, residents have begun returning to destroyed homes to salvage what remains. Survivors described scenes of devastation, with entire villages buried under thick sediment, rice terraces collapsed into rivers, and critical infrastructure severely damaged. A major power plant serving over 20,000 people across four districts sustained severe damage, with workers beginning inspections Sunday. The Prithivi Highway, a crucial supply route for Kathmandu, remains partially operational despite significant damage requiring ongoing repairs.
Nepal's foreign minister has called for international action on climate change, noting that Nepal contributes only 0.1 percent of global emissions yet bears disproportionate consequences. While scientists have noted it is premature to establish direct causation between global warming and this specific event, they emphasize that rising temperatures increase the likelihood of such disasters, particularly in the rapidly warming Himalayan region. International assistance has begun mobilising, with Malaysia pledging $1 million in aid and committing to deploy a search-and-rescue team.
