Nepal officials report 903 deaths and 4,247 missing following devastating floods and mudslides
Nepal's disaster management department reported 903 deaths and 4,247 missing people following massive floods and mudslides triggered by a glacier collapse near the border with China's Tibet region. The disaster has affected more than 90,000 people, with 10,000 people rescued so far, including 323 foreign nationals. Rescuers are currently working to reach 933 workers from Nepal, South Korea, and China who are trapped in nine to 11 hydropower tunnels in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. The Nepali army is using drills, excavators, and controlled blasts to clear debris and locate the workers. The U.S. State Department reported that 80 Americans remain unaccounted for, while 13 have been made safe. The U.S. has activated $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance for the region. China reported 16 deaths and 546 missing in its Tibet region. Chinese state television attributed the disaster to glacier instability caused by the long-term effects of climate warming. Meanwhile, local authorities in the Chitwan district have dug hundreds of graves to accommodate the large number of bodies swept downstream from the flood-hit areas.
Sources
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Nepal's hesitance to accept foreign help for flood relief comes under scrutiny
NPR
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Nepal floods death toll tops 900, as number of missing nearly doubles to more than 4,200
NBC News