Nepal: Glacial Disaster Death Toll Rises to At Least 472

07:23

The northern region of Nepal is facing an unprecedented disaster following a devastating flood that occurred on Wednesday in an area bordering China. The latest provisional death toll reports at least 472 fatalities on both sides of the border, while rescue operations continue under particularly challenging conditions, and the threat of another flood worries authorities.

According to data released on Friday by the Nepalese police, 469 people have lost their lives in Nepal. The number of missing persons remains very high, with approximately 910 individuals still unaccounted for.

Among them are 517 foreign nationals, according to the Nepal Tourism Board. Several nationalities are affected, including Indian, British, Malaysian, Australian, Dutch, American, and Portuguese citizens.

A Disaster with Complex Geological Origins

Initial analyses attribute this disaster to the collapse of a glacier. According to the United States Geological Survey, this event triggered a flood of considerable power and caused a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, which then led to landslides in an already difficult-to-access mountainous region.

This chain of phenomena has heavily impacted the downstream areas and complicated search operations, in an environment where weather conditions and terrain pose additional obstacles for rescue teams.

The disaster has not been limited to Nepalese territory. In the Chinese region of Tibet, authorities have reported three deaths, bringing the total number of victims to at least 472 according to the provisional toll available on Friday.

A New Threat Linked to an Altitude Lake

As rescue efforts remain focused on locating the missing and evacuating exposed populations, a new source of concern has arisen in the Gyirong region of Tibet.

The disaster has led to the formation of a significant water retention area at high altitude. Chinese authorities now fear that a breach of this water mass could trigger another flood downstream.

According to information provided by local authorities, the volume of this retention area could reach three million cubic meters over the next three days due to ongoing rainfall. The risk has been classified as high, prompting authorities to strengthen monitoring of the area.

Nepal had already alerted on Thursday about the possibility of another rise in water levels linked to the formation of this lake following the glacier collapse.

Hundreds of Residents and Tourists Evacuated

In light of the deteriorating situation, evacuation operations are ongoing on the Chinese side of the border.

In the Gyirong area, 499 residents and 555 tourists who had found themselves stranded have been evacuated, according to information reported by Chinese public television. However, authorities did not specify the nationalities of the affected visitors.

Search operations continue in Nepal, where the large number of missing persons raises fears of a heavier toll in the coming hours or days.

A Region Facing Cascading Risks

Beyond the heavy human toll, this disaster highlights the vulnerability of mountainous regions to the rapid succession of natural phenomena.

Glacial collapse, seismic activity, landslides, floods, and the formation of a water retention area: authorities are confronted with a series of risks that continue to threaten populations and complicate access to affected areas.

As search efforts continue and rescue teams attempt to secure the most exposed sectors, monitoring the lake formed near Gyirong has become one of the main priorities. The persistence of rainfall could indeed increase pressure on this natural retention area and pose the risk of another devastating episode in the downstream areas.