Japanese officials confirmed that a family of five, including two adults in their 40s and three children aged 10, six and three, were believed missing after a catastrophic flash flood hit Nepal. The incident occurred during heavy rainfall triggered by a glacier collapse, which unleashed a destructive flow of rock, ice, mud and debris through mountain river systems. The disaster resulted in at least 669 deaths in Nepal and seven in China's Tibet, with nearly 3,000 people still unaccounted for. Among the missing are approximately 2,426 in Nepal and 554 in Tibet's Gyirong County, including at least 540 foreign nationals, primarily Hindu pilgrims from India. The flood, which devastated regions near the Tibetan border, caused widespread destruction, sweeping away buildings, bridges and power stations. Search and rescue operations were temporarily halted due to adverse weather conditions such as rain and fog, but resumed later on Saturday. Authorities reported progress in locating individuals trapped in tunnels, with the Nepali army inserting a pipe into a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric site. This marked a critical step in the ongoing effort to reach those presumed to be in danger. Nepal, a country of 30 million people, faces immense challenges in recovery. Its finance minister estimated that rebuilding efforts could require up to $5 billion, citing the scale of the devastation. The government has requested international aid, emphasizing the urgent need for technical expertise in areas such as tunnel excavation, infrastructure restoration and body identification. The situation highlights the growing threat of climate-induced disasters, with experts noting that rising temperatures will likely lead to more frequent and severe flooding in the region. In Kathmandu, families of the missing gathered outside medical facilities, hoping to identify loved ones from photographs of recovered bodies. In Malaysia, relatives of 91 citizens listed as "uncontactable" in Nepal and Tibet awaited news, expressing frustration over the lack of timely updates. A representative for these families urged the Malaysian foreign ministry to improve communication channels, describing the absence of information as deeply distressing. Meanwhile, India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that 275 Indian nationals remained missing, underscoring the cross-border impact of the tragedy. Survivors, too, are grappling with the aftermath. Saraswati Ghale, 43, recounted how her home was destroyed in the flood, forcing her to flee as the waters surged. She described the experience as akin to an earthquake, leaving her with nothing but survival. Her account reflects the broader struggle of communities trying to rebuild their lives amid loss and uncertainty. As the government works to assess the full extent of damages, the challenge of restoring normalcy looms large. Technical teams from both India and China have begun arriving in Nepal to assist with rescue and recovery efforts. Indian tunnel experts joined forces with Chinese specialists, with reports indicating that additional personnel are en route. These teams aim to address critical tasks such as identifying victims, conducting DNA tests and managing the storage of decomposed bodies to prevent disease outbreaks. With the floodwaters receding and the lake formed by the disaster showing signs of drainage, the focus shifts toward long-term reconstruction and resilience-building in a region increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events.
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