Rescuers in Nepal and Tibet are searching for more than 5,500 people missing after catastrophic floods killed at least 1,384 people across the two areas. Search operations entered their 12th day as teams faced difficult terrain, poor weather, damaged roads and the risk of further landslides.
Nepal’s national disaster agency said 1,341 bodies had been recovered and about 4,996 people remained missing. In Tibet, the death toll reached 43, with 519 people still missing, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.
Rescue teams face blocked access and unstable ground
Nepalese teams are searching in areas near the China border, including flooded hydropower tunnels. Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha said geography, adverse weather and poor connectivity were complicating the work.
On the Chinese side, rescuers are working through deep mud and narrow-gorge conditions while watching for additional landslides. At Gyirong, the former five-storey customs building has been destroyed; crews are using shovels, excavators and ground-penetrating radar to search for people.
The only road into Gyirong reopened on Wednesday, allowing heavy equipment to reach the area. For additional context, see “Severe Monsoon Rains Cause Widespread Flooding and Damage Across Asian Countries”.
Key points
- About 800 foreigners are among those missing across China and Nepal.
- Four people have been found alive since Friday, including three rescued from hydropower tunnels.
- The United Nations has appealed for $50m to help more than 84,000 people affected by the disaster.
- Nepal has formally requested support from the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage.
Nepal seeks international help after the destruction
Nepal has asked the United Nations-backed Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to provide aid. The fund was established in 2022 to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the government had filed a formal climate compensation claim letter with international partners. The United Nations said delivering assistance would be extremely difficult because of the destruction and appealed for $50m to support more than 84,000 people.
The fund’s website shows that contributing states have pledged about $822m, of which about $631m has been received. Climate adviser Manjeet Dhakal said even a symbolic payment could demonstrate the fund’s purpose, while noting that its resources are limited.
Cause of the glacial collapse is still being examined
Authorities say the flooding was likely caused by a glacial collapse last month, but the exact cause remains under investigation. A United Nations study found that glacier floods have become nearly five times more frequent since 1950 as global temperatures have risen. A related part of this story is covered in “Climate crisis causes £40bn damage to Caribbean islands from 2000 to 2024”.
Dhakal said vulnerable countries are often forced to redirect money intended for health, education and development to disaster recovery. He argued that the international community has a responsibility to help countries such as Nepal meet those costs.
What happens next
Search and rescue operations are continuing in Nepalese hydropower tunnels and in the affected area around Gyirong, while Nepal’s request for climate-related assistance remains under consideration.
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