Authorities in Nepal expressed dwindling hopes of discovering more survivors among the numerous individuals still missing, following a glacier collapse in the Himalayas that triggered devastating flash floods across the mountainous country. The death toll stands at a minimum of 1,114, with close to 4,000 individuals unaccounted for, raising concerns that many may be trapped beneath debris from the destructive floods that ravaged towns and valleys near the Chinese border.
On the Chinese side in Tibet, the official figures have remained constant at 16 fatalities and 546 individuals missing. Phanindra Paudel, a senior official at the National Emergency Operation Center, acknowledged the diminishing optimism for finding survivors but emphasized maintaining hope.
Rescue efforts are focused on locating individuals believed to be trapped inside tunnels of hydroelectric plants, with 279 individuals already rescued and 639 more still missing, including some potentially stuck in tunnels. Specialized rescue teams from India, China, and the United States are aiding in the tunnel rescue operations.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah announced a shift in focus from search and rescue operations to rehabilitation and reconstruction. The disaster has left an estimated 2.2 million tons of debris, equivalent to six Empire State Buildings, scattered across the affected areas, prompting residents to salvage whatever remains of their belongings from the devastated villages and towns.
The situation poses a growing public health risk, with concerns raised by aid agencies about overcrowded shelters, contaminated water, and damaged health facilities, particularly impacting women and children during the monsoon season. The government has increased surveillance and response measures to prevent potential disease outbreaks in the flood-affected regions.