Authorities say the death toll in Nepal and Tibet from catastrophic Himalayan floods has hit 750, with 3,044 still missing.
Tibet officials reported that Nepal’s death toll stands at 734, with 2,498 missing and 7,514 rescued.
According to the country’s disaster authority, rescuers moved to higher ground on Sunday as fresh rain swelled river levels, with water in the Trishuli River rising and prompting residents and rescue workers to seek safety.
Rescue operations have been suspended repeatedly due to bad weather and fears that a lake formed across the Nepal-China border by Wednesday’s glacier collapse could trigger fresh flooding.
READ MORE: Himalaya flood: Rescuers recover more bodies, death toll rises to 50
The lake had largely drained by Saturday evening, local media report. However, drones detected a new landslide 2.8km downstream, forming a fresh dam and pool of water.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said Nepal’s rescue effort now focuses on hundreds believed to be trapped in tunnels at hydropower plants after ice, rock, mud and debris crashed down into Himalayan rivers.
Chhetri added that Nepal doesn’t need foreign help for general rescue but needs assistance with tunnel rescue, DNA testing, refrigerated body storage and forensic identification of decomposed remains.
Reuters
