DHADING, Nepal (AP) — Authorities in Nepal issued warnings on Sunday regarding the potential for new flooding, calling on residents in affected districts to remain vigilant following a rise in water levels in the Bhotekoshi River. This alert comes as rescue teams continue their efforts to clear a significant highway connecting Kathmandu to the regions hardest hit by disastrous floods that occurred on Wednesday, which resulted in at least 800 fatalities and left over 3,000 individuals missing across Nepal and Tibet.
Early Sunday, flood warning notifications were dispatched to residents' mobile phones, a precautionary measure taken after Chinese officials alerted their Nepalese counterparts about increased water flow upstream. Dharam Raj Uprety, the chief executive of Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, confirmed these reports. According to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, a new lake that formed after Wednesday's floods at high altitudes has mostly drained. However, a crater about 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) upstream, which holds an estimated 1.4 million cubic meters (370 million gallons) of water, still poses a risk and is under close observation.
On Sunday, Nepal’s disaster agency reported an updated death toll of 788, with 2,502 individuals still missing. Chinese authorities reported that 16 people died and 546 remain missing on their side of the border. Among the missing are many foreigners from over a dozen countries who were present in the region for work, tourism, or pilgrimages, particularly to sacred sites. Reports from Chinese state media stated that 261 foreigners are missing in Tibet, including more than a hundred Nepalis.
In Dhading, one of the most severely impacted areas, residents are returning to inspect the remnants of their homes. Some individuals have begun the grueling task of clearing away debris and mud, desperately searching for salvageable belongings. Sharmila Tamang, a local resident, expressed her despair, stating, "Everything is finished. Nothing is left. Not even our home." At a crucial power plant that suffered extensive damage, workers commenced inspections to assess the extent of the destruction, which serves over 20,000 individuals across four districts.
Amidst the chaos, some residents have found temporary refuge and are closely monitoring the river's relentless current. In Galchhi, locals gathered on a nearby bridge to witness the dangerous waters while assessing the destruction that has swept away enormous rocks and uprooted houses. Many businesses and homes spared by the floods remain without electricity as twisted power lines are ensnared in mud.
The continuous flood alarms have left residents perplexed and fearful. Govind Shreshta, a local, shared the distressing experience of having to evacuate to higher ground repeatedly, stating, "It’s really difficult for me. I have a 72-year-old father and a 70-year-old mother. I must carry them, and I am exhausted." With the destruction of major concrete and suspension bridges, access remains challenging for communities cut off from essential services.
The flash floods, attributed to a glacial collapse in the Himalayan region, were so powerful that they registered as a magnitude 5.2 earthquake. The subsequent torrents of water devastated valleys in both Tibet and Nepal. As calls for global action on climate change resonated, Nepal's foreign minister emphasized the country's disproportionate suffering despite contributing only 0.1% to global emissions. Shisir Khanal highlighted that Nepalese people are significant victims of climatic changes driven by human activities.
In response to this disaster, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced plans for his country to send a search-and-rescue team to aid Nepal, alongside a pledge of $1 million in financial support. The urgency of humanitarian efforts in the region remains paramount as recovery operations continue amidst the ongoing risk of further flooding.
