Flood Disaster in Nepal Kills 538, Government Declines Foreign Aid Amid Rescue Efforts

The death toll from the devastating flood in Nepal near the Tibet border has risen to 538, with approximately 1,300 people still missing, over half of whom are foreign nationals. Despite offers of international assistance, Nepal's Foreign Ministry stated that foreign rescue teams are not needed as local security forces are currently managing search and rescue operations.

Rescue teams are working to save more than 100 workers trapped inside a tunnel near a hydroelectric dam construction site, with two helicopters assisting. However, heavy rains and difficult terrain are hampering these efforts. In Kathmandu, crowds gathered to report missing relatives and seek information about their fate. China has resumed its rescue operations after a temporary halt due to concerns over a dam's stability.

The flood struck a popular pilgrimage and tourist route near Mount Kailash, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists. At the time of the disaster on Wednesday morning, 77 tourists, including a 60-year-old Israeli, were in the area and have since lost contact. Around 700 people were at a border checkpoint when the flood hit, many swept away by the torrent.

Nepal's Disaster Management Authority reported 469 confirmed deaths and 977 missing persons, including Nepali tourists, security personnel, and local residents. China reported casualties and missing persons on its side of the border, with nearly 100 Chinese citizens missing in Nepal. India has 288 citizens unaccounted for, many pilgrims heading to Mount Kailash. The U.S. State Department confirmed 90 Americans missing, with three rescued. Other missing foreigners include Ukrainians, Malaysians, Australians, British, Canadians, South Koreans, Singaporeans, Germans, Russians, South Africans, Latvians, Japanese, New Zealanders, French, Belgians, Spaniards, Italians, Kazakhs, Portuguese, Irish, Dutch, Belarusians, Finns, Hungarians, Israelis, Lithuanians, Filipinos, Bulgarians, Swiss, Serbians, and Swedes.

Experts explained that the flood was caused by a massive landslide of ice and rock from a glacier on a mountain slope, which fell about two kilometers into the Lenda Kola river, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi river. This triggered a powerful surge of water, ice, and debris moving at an average speed of 193 km/h, causing widespread destruction. The floodwaters, mixed with mud and large rocks, created dangerous conditions for rescuers, with unstable ground and deep waters complicating search efforts.

Videos from the Tibetan side show the flood rushing through towns, destroying bridges, buildings, and vehicles. The disaster occurred around 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday, leaving a trail of devastation on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border.