Nepal Floods: 3,000 Missing as US Pledges $3.6 Million Aid

The United States has announced more than $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance for Nepal as a catastrophic flood and debris flow along the Nepal-China border leaves hundreds dead and nearly 3,000 people missing. Rescue teams are continuing searches for survivors, including workers believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels.

The United States has pledged more than $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance to Nepal following a devastating flood and debris-flow disaster that struck the Himalayan region along the Nepal-China border.

The aid package includes up to three months of emergency food assistance for as many as 10,000 flood-affected households, according to the US State Department.

The disaster has triggered a massive search-and-rescue operation in Nepal and Tibet. Combined figures from the two sides put the death toll at about 691, while the number of missing people has risen to more than 3,000.

The catastrophe began on August 26 after a glacial collapse in the Himalayan region unleashed a fast-moving torrent of water, ice, mud and debris through river valleys.

US Announces Emergency Aid

The United States said its assistance would provide immediate humanitarian support to people affected by the disaster.

The $3.6 million-plus package includes emergency food assistance intended to support up to 10,000 affected households for as long as three months.

The announcement comes as Nepal faces a major humanitarian emergency, with entire settlements damaged or destroyed and thousands of people still unaccounted for.

The US State Department also said American diplomatic missions in Nepal and China were working to assist US citizens and support disaster-relief efforts.

Thousands Still Missing

Rescue teams in Nepal and China continued searching through mud, debris and damaged infrastructure on Saturday and Sunday.

The latest combined figures indicate that more than 3,000 people remain missing across Nepal and China's Tibet region. Nepal has recorded the larger share of the casualties, while China has also reported deaths and hundreds of missing people.

Nepal's authorities have reported hundreds of deaths and thousands of missing people, while more than 3,700 people had been rescued in the country according to reports citing officials.

Some missing people may have been swept downstream by the powerful floodwaters, complicating the search across remote valleys and river systems.

Tunnel Rescue Operation

One of the most urgent rescue efforts is focused on workers believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels.

At the Trishuli 3A hydropower site, rescuers managed to insert a pipe through an opening into a tunnel where workers were believed to be trapped.

The pipe is being used to send air into the tunnel while teams prepare for excavation and further rescue operations.

Other hydropower sites, including the Trishuli 3B area, have also become major focuses of the search because workers may still be trapped inside tunnels filled with mud and debris.

The difficult terrain, unstable slopes and continuing water-related hazards are making rescue operations particularly challenging.

Glacial Collapse Triggered Flood

The US Geological Survey (USGS) says the disaster was likely triggered by a glacial collapse in Langtang National Park in Nepal, close to the Chinese border.

According to the USGS, the resulting debris flow and flood travelled approximately 100 kilometres, affecting populated areas downstream along the Trishuli and Bhote Koshi river systems, as well as the Gyirong area in China.

USGS analysis indicates that seismic waves generated by the event were equivalent to an earthquake of approximately magnitude 5.2.

The collapse involved ice, rock and other debris moving rapidly downslope. The material picked up additional water and debris as it entered existing river channels, producing a powerful and destructive flood.

Climate Risk Under Focus

The disaster has renewed concerns over the growing risks faced by communities living in the Himalayan region.

Scientists and climate experts have warned that rising temperatures are contributing to changes in glacier stability and increasing the potential for dangerous high-altitude events.

However, the USGS describes its current assessment as preliminary and subject to revision. The exact chain of events and contributing factors will continue to be studied as investigators analyse satellite imagery, seismic information and field data.

The event also highlights the difficulty of detecting sudden glacial collapses in remote mountainous terrain.

Families Await Missing

For families of those still missing, the rescue operation has become an agonising wait for information.

Entire settlements near affected rivers have suffered extensive destruction, leaving survivors searching through mud and debris for belongings and relatives.

At rescue centres in Nepal, families have gathered around lists of rescued and missing people while authorities continue identification and recovery operations.

The scale of destruction has also created major challenges in identifying recovered bodies. In some cases, authorities have had to consider DNA collection because of the condition of remains.

India, China Join Efforts

Nepal has received international assistance as it expands rescue and relief operations.

India and China have deployed teams and assistance, while other countries have also offered humanitarian support. Nepal has indicated that international technical assistance will be particularly important for specialised rescue work, infrastructure restoration and identification of victims.

China has separately reported deaths and hundreds of missing people in Tibet. Reuters reported that 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries were among those reported missing on the Chinese side, including Indian, Nepali, American and British nationals.

The disaster has therefore developed into a major cross-border humanitarian emergency involving Nepal, China and citizens of several other countries.

What Happens Next

Search-and-rescue teams are expected to continue working in the affected valleys, riverbanks and hydropower facilities as weather and terrain conditions allow.

The immediate priorities remain finding survivors, locating missing people, recovering bodies, providing food and shelter and restoring access to damaged communities.

The tunnel rescue operations could become particularly significant if workers are confirmed alive inside the affected hydropower facilities.

At the same time, authorities will need to monitor rivers, unstable slopes and high-altitude areas for additional hazards that could complicate rescue operations.