The death toll from devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border has risen to more than 470, as rescue operations continue amid fears of another major flood.
Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Office said 469 people had been confirmed dead in Nepal, while Chinese authorities reported additional deaths in Tibet. Nearly 1,500 people remain missing across the affected areas.
The disaster was triggered by a massive surge of water, mud and debris along the Bhote Koshi River after a suspected glacier or landslide-related collapse.
Rescue efforts have been complicated by destroyed roads and bridges, difficult terrain and continuing risks from landslides and flooding.
Authorities have also raised the alarm over a barrier lake formed near the Nepal-China border, which is threatening to overflow and send another surge of water downstream. Rescue teams temporarily suspended operations in some areas as the water level rose.
Thousands of security personnel have been deployed to search for survivors and recover victims, while helicopters are being used to reach isolated communities.
The disaster has devastated settlements and critical infrastructure across the region, with hundreds of people, including foreign nationals and pilgrims, still unaccounted for.
