Thousands still missing as Nepal-Tibet flood relief and recovery intensifies

A flash flood believed to have been triggered by a glacial collapse swept through a Himalayan valley on Wednesday, wiping out villages. Nepal’s disaster management agency reported that nearly 12,000 people have been rescued so far. Despite the rescue effort, thousands remain missing, including hundreds of overseas nationals from India, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Malaysia and other countries. A week after the disaster, fears are growing that the death toll will increase further. Chinese state media has not reported any survivors on the Tibetan side of the border, and the search continues. Beijing, which annexed Tibet in the 1950s, maintains tight control over the region; all information comes from official sources, and foreign journalists may not operate there without permission. Rescuers employing heavy machinery around the clock have cleared debris and reopened the route to the Gyirong border crossing between Nepal and Tibet, which officials say will speed the search for the missing. Rescue operations persist under difficult conditions, with experts from China and India helping to erect temporary bridges to reach isolated areas. Drones are being deployed over hard‑to‑reach zones to scan for survivors. The United Nations humanitarian bureau said the primary challenge is access, noting that more than 40 bridges have been destroyed. The most remote communities are relying on helicopter flights for supplies, and many villages continue to struggle for food and electricity.