The death toll from the devastating Nepal-Tibet flash floods has risen to 586, while more than 2,400 people remain missing across the two sides of the Himalayan border. Rescue teams are continuing operations through thick mud and debris as authorities face the additional threat of rising water levels and unstable terrain.
The disaster was triggered by a glacial collapse, according to the US Geological Survey, which sent a huge torrent of ice, water and debris downstream. Nepal's disaster authorities had reported 579 deaths on Friday, while seven deaths were reported in Tibet by Chinese state media.
The catastrophe has become one of Nepal's deadliest natural disasters since the 2015 earthquake, with villages, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure badly affected.
Glacial Collapse Triggers Flood
The disaster began when a section of glacier collapsed in the Himalayan region, triggering a massive flow of ice, rocks, mud and water.
The torrent travelled downstream through river valleys, overwhelming settlements and infrastructure along the route.
The sudden nature of the event left residents and workers with little time to escape. In several locations, people were forced to seek shelter on rooftops, hillsides and inside hydropower tunnels as floodwaters swept through the valleys.
The debris carried by the flood has also created new hazards for rescue teams.
Fresh Flood Threat Emerges
Rescue operations have been complicated by the possibility of another surge of water.
Nepali police reportedly warned rescuers to immediately move to safer locations after receiving information that a water dam had burst again on the Tibetan side.
In Tibet's worst-hit Gyirong area, China temporarily suspended rescue operations because of concerns over another flood. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV later reported that water levels had fallen and rescue operations were able to proceed in an orderly manner.
The possibility of sudden flooding remains a major concern because rescue teams are working close to unstable river channels and debris-filled valleys.
Hydropower Workers Trapped
One of the most difficult rescue operations is underway at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project, where more than 100 people remained trapped inside a tunnel.
The Nepali Army located the trapped workers and began searching for an accessible entry point.
Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet said two helicopters had been deployed, but reaching the tunnel was difficult because rescuers were struggling to identify the entrances.
Around 350 workers and residents had already been brought to safety from the site, while efforts continued to reach those still trapped.
Workers rescued from other hydropower projects in the Trishuli valley described how rapidly the flood struck.
Families Wait For News
The disaster has left families across Nepal desperately searching for missing relatives.
At hospitals and makeshift medical facilities in Kathmandu, relatives have gathered with photographs and names of missing people, hoping for information.
Nepal's disaster authority said 1,924 people, including 517 foreigners, remained out of contact in the country. The number represented a sharp increase from an earlier missing-person figure of 977.
The authorities have warned that the numbers could change as rescue teams reach areas that remain inaccessible.
Bodies Recovered In India
The disaster has also affected areas downstream in India.
Indian authorities have recovered seven bodies from rivers flowing from Nepal, with officials believing the victims may have been swept downstream by the floods.
The recovery of bodies in India highlights the scale and force of the floodwaters that travelled through the Himalayan river system.
Search operations along downstream stretches are expected to continue as authorities attempt to identify victims and establish whether more people may have been carried across the border.
Tibet Reports Deaths
The disaster has also caused significant casualties on the Chinese side of the border.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported seven deaths and 554 people missing in Tibet as of early Saturday.
Authorities said 555 stranded tourists and 499 Chinese residents had been evacuated from affected areas.
Information from Tibet has been comparatively limited because access for foreign journalists remains restricted, leaving Chinese official sources as the primary source of information about the situation there.
The disaster has nevertheless disrupted transport and rescue operations in the border region.
Pilgrims Among Missing
The floods have also affected pilgrims travelling towards Mount Kailash in Tibet, with devotees from several countries among those reported missing or stranded.
One group of pilgrims travelling by bus towards the Chinese border became trapped after what initially appeared to be a traffic jam.
Survivor Sivaranjani Muthunathan, 46, told AFP that fog and smoke suddenly appeared before a torrent of water and debris moved towards the vehicles.
Several vehicles were reportedly swept away or buried in mud. Members of the group eventually escaped through the driver's side and climbed towards higher ground.
The accounts from survivors provide an indication of how quickly conditions changed.
Rescue Efforts Continue
Nepalese security forces are continuing search-and-rescue operations across affected districts despite difficult weather and terrain.
The military has deployed helicopters alongside ground teams, while emergency workers are attempting to provide food, water and medical assistance to survivors.
The operation is being conducted under difficult circumstances because roads and bridges have been damaged, communications disrupted and river levels remain unpredictable.
China has also mobilised rescue teams in Tibet and evacuated stranded people from the affected region.
What Happens Next
The coming days will be critical as rescue teams continue searching for people trapped beneath debris or stranded in isolated locations.
The biggest immediate challenge is balancing the need to reach missing people with the danger posed by fresh rainfall, unstable slopes, debris-dammed water and rapidly rising rivers.
Nepal's disaster authorities are expected to continue updating casualty and missing-person figures as more areas become accessible.
With 586 bodies recovered and more than 2,400 people still missing across Nepal and Tibet, the scale of the Himalayan disaster remains uncertain. Rescue teams are racing against time to find survivors while authorities work to prevent a second wave of flooding from worsening an already devastating humanitarian crisis.
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