4,500 missing as rescuers battle mud and debris
Rescuers in Nepal continued digging through mud and debris on Monday, the sixth day of a devastating glacial flood that has left nearly 4,500 people missing.
The confirmed death toll has climbed to 939 in Nepal and Tibet, while at least 17 more bodies have been recovered from rivers downstream in India. Some unidentified victims have been buried in mass graves following DNA sampling.
The disaster began on Wednesday when a massive surge of freezing water, rocks and debris swept down from the China-Nepal border, destroying villages, roads, bridges and infrastructure.
Rescue teams are racing to reach around 100 hydropower workers believed to be trapped inside several tunnels. Three bodies have so far been recovered from two tunnels, while thick mud continues to block access.
Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the disaster as “unimaginable and heartbreaking.”
The US Geological Survey said the disaster was triggered by a glacial collapse. Scientists have warned that rising global temperatures are accelerating glacier melt in the Himalayas and increasing the risk of such events.
Authorities are also facing major challenges delivering aid, with roads washed away and entire communities cut off. Tens of thousands of people have been affected and many are now homeless or sheltering in temporary facilities.
