Hopes of locating additional survivors among the many still unaccounted for in Nepal were diminishing, authorities stated on Wednesday, a week following a glacier collapse in the Himalayas triggering flash floods that wreaked havoc on the country. The death toll has reached at least 1,114 people, with close to 4,000 individuals still missing, raising concerns that many may be trapped beneath the debris left in the wake of the devastating floods that swept through towns and valleys near the Chinese border. Across the border in Tibet, China has reported 16 fatalities and 546 individuals missing.
Phanindra Paudel, a senior official at the National Emergency Operation Center, expressed a dwindling hope in finding survivors but maintained a sense of optimism. Rescue efforts are ongoing to locate survivors believed to be stuck inside the tunnels of various hydroelectric plants, with specialized teams from India, China, and the United States aiding in the rescue operations.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah announced a shift in focus from search and rescue to rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. The disaster has resulted in approximately 2.2 million tons of debris, equivalent to the size of six Empire State buildings, littering the affected areas. Residents are left sifting through the remnants of their communities, salvaging what little they can.
As concerns mount over public health risks, aid agencies are particularly worried about overcrowded shelters, contaminated water sources, and damaged health facilities, especially for vulnerable groups like women and children during the monsoon season. The government has intensified surveillance and response measures to avert potential disease outbreaks in flood-affected regions.