Nepal-Tibet floods: 750 dead, 20,000 deployed as rising rivers hamper rescue ops

The death toll from the catastrophic floods that struck Nepal and China's Tibet this week has risen to 750, while more than 3,000 people remain missing, as authorities warned of possible fresh flooding and rescuers continued operations in difficult conditions.The disaster was triggered by a glacier collapse on Wednesday, unleashing torrents of ice, rock, mud and debris through Himalayan river systems. The floods devastated settlements, destroyed bridges and roads, and damaged hydropower infrastructure across the affected areas.As of the latest updates on Sunday, 734 people were confirmed dead in Nepal, while 2,498 people remained missing, according to Nepal's disaster authorities.On the Chinese side in Tibet, authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing, taking the combined missing toll to more than 3,000.

Here are the top developments from the disaster:

Fresh flood warnings issued as river levels rise

Nepalese authorities warned residents in flood-hit districts to remain on high alert after water levels rose in the Bhotekoshi River on Sunday.Flood warning notices were sent to people's phones as rescue teams continued efforts to clear damaged sections of the highway linking Kathmandu with some of the worst-hit areas.

The warnings came after Chinese authorities informed Nepal that water flow had increased upstream, Dharam Raj Uprety, chief executive of Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, told news agency AP.The NDRRMA also warned rescue and relief personnel in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and surrounding areas to exercise caution as the flow in the Bhote Koshi River increased further.Fresh rain also caused water levels in the Trishuli River to rise, prompting residents and rescue workers to move to higher ground, Reuters reported.

Rescue focus shifts to people trapped in hydropower tunnels

Rescue operations are increasingly focused on hundreds of people believed to be trapped in tunnels at hydropower projects after the floods swept through the region.Nepal has sought specialised international assistance for tunnel rescue operations. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said the country did not require foreign help for general rescue operations but needed support in areas including tunnel rescue, DNA testing, refrigerated storage of bodies and forensic identification.Indian and Chinese experts are assisting efforts to open tunnels.Nepal foreign minister Shisir Khanal told news agency ANI that more than 4,000 people had been rescued over the previous three days and that specialised teams had arrived to assist with tunnel rescue operations.According to the NDRRMA, 279 people, including 227 foreign nationals, have been rescued by helicopter from a hydropower tunnel.

Over 8,000 rescued as nearly 20,000 security personnel deployed

Nepal's disaster authority said 8,186 people have so far been rescued.The rescue effort has involved 19,895 security personnel, including:

The NDRRMA said 2,974 people were rescued by the Nepal Army, 2,699 by Nepal Police and 2,513 by the Armed Police Force Nepal.The disaster has also left 242 people injured, while surgical medical teams have been deployed in affected areas.

Nepal seeks DNA testing and forensic support to identify bodies

Authorities are seeking specialised forensic assistance to identify the hundreds of bodies recovered from the disaster zone."We are seeking additional support for forensic laboratories. We have found more than 600 bodies, many of them in very difficult conditions to identify. We need to conduct rapid DNA analysis," foreign minister Khanal said.Unidentified bodies recovered during rescue operations have been kept across 21 hospitals in various districts, according to the NDRRMA.The latest Indian assistance includes forensic experts equipped to support DNA analysis.

India sends fourth relief flight carrying 11 tonnes of supplies

India has sent a fourth flight to Kathmandu carrying relief supplies and specialised technical assistance for Nepal's rescue operations.External affairs minister S Jaishankar said the flight brought "essential supplies and technical capabilities" to support ongoing rescue and relief efforts.According to the Indian Embassy in Nepal, the aircraft carried 11 tonnes of relief material, including a tunnel technical team, forensic experts for DNA analysis, blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheets and hygiene kits.Foreign minister Khanal said four Indian flights carrying relief supplies had arrived in Nepal and expressed gratitude for India's assistance.

More than 2,400 people missing in Nepal, including foreigners

Of the 2,419 people reported missing or out of contact in an earlier NDRRMA update, 589 were foreign nationals, while 127 were Nepalis accompanying foreign tourists.The missing included 933 people linked to hydropower projects, with 562 missing in Rasuwa and 115 in Nuwakot.On the Tibetan side, authorities said 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries were among those missing, according to Reuters. They included 104 Nepalis, 49 Indians, 33 Latvians, 18 Americans and 15 Britons.

New lake threat eases, but another landslide creates fresh risk

Rescue operations have repeatedly been disrupted by bad weather and concerns over a lake that formed across the Nepal-China border after the glacier collapse.The lake had largely drained by Saturday evening, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.However, drones later detected a landslide 2.8 km downstream of the lake, creating another dam and a fresh pool of water. Authorities moved rescue personnel near the Gyirong border crossing to safety.China and Nepal are continuing to monitor water levels and other potential hazards in the disaster zone.

Infrastructure damage leaves communities cut off

The floods destroyed large concrete and suspension bridges, leaving communities on opposite sides of rivers cut off from each other.Homes and businesses that survived the initial flooding remained without electricity in some areas, with damaged power poles and wires lying in the mud.The Prithivi Highway, a key route for food, fuel and other supplies entering Kathmandu, remained operational in large parts, although some sections continued to require repairs.The Nepal government has released cash assistance, including NPR 10 million each for Rasuwa and Nuwakot, NPR 5 million for Dhading and NPR 67.5 million for 15 local municipalities.Authorities have also dispatched 37 trucks carrying food and non-food relief materials, while helicopter flights have been used to transport supplies to affected areas.

International assistance continues

International assistance for Nepal's flood response is continuing, with India, China, the United States and Malaysia extending support.India has sent four flights carrying relief supplies and specialised technical assistance. The fourth flight carried 11 tonnes of relief material, including a tunnel technical team and forensic experts for DNA analysis.The United States has provided more than $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance, including emergency food support for up to 10,000 flood-affected households, the US Embassy in Kathmandu said on Sunday.The assistance also includes emergency supplies, while the US is coordinating with the Nepal government and humanitarian organisations on further support.Malaysia on Sunday said it would send a specialised disaster search-and-rescue team to Nepal and provide $1 million in financial aid.China has mobilised more than 2,100 rescue workers and allocated at least 220 million yuan ($32.7 million) for relief efforts.Beijing is also providing emergency aid, relief supplies, satellite and hydrological data and tunnel rescue experts to Nepal.Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told his Nepalese counterpart that the disaster was the countries' "most severe cross-border disaster" in recent years.

Nepal's LGBTQ+ community holds candlelight vigil

Members of Nepal's LGBTQ+ community gathered in Kathmandu on Saturday for a candlelight vigil to honour those killed and pray for people still missing.The event was organised by the Blue Diamond Society, which cancelled its planned Nepal Pride Parade and GaiJatra Celebration in view of the disaster."We organised this small gathering to light candles and pray for the eternal peace of all who lost their lives in this disaster, and to pray that those who are still missing are found as quickly as possible," a community member told news agency PTI.