The death toll from devastating floods that hit Nepal and Tibet has reached 750, with more than three thousand people still missing. Nepalese authorities are warning of possible new floods due to rising water levels in the Bhote Koshi River, reports infohub.kz.
According to Nepal's emergency agency, 734 people have died in the country, and 2,498 are missing. Chinese authorities report 16 dead and 546 missing, including more than 100 Nepali citizens and nationals from over a dozen countries.
On the morning of Sunday, August 30, residents of affected areas received phone alerts about potential new floods. Authorities urged the public to remain on high alert after water levels in the Bhote Koshi began to rise.
As reported by the Associated Press, the head of Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Dharam Raj Upreti, said the new warnings came after Chinese authorities informed the Nepali side about increased water discharge upstream.
Meanwhile, rescue services are clearing a key highway linking Kathmandu to one of the worst-hit areas. Most of the Prithvi Highway has been reopened, but some sections still face restoration challenges.
In the town of Galchhi, some residents have climbed onto bridges and other high ground. Along the river, homes, cars, and agricultural equipment remain buried under thick debris from the previous flood. Landslides have occurred on rice terraces, and some fields have collapsed into the river.
The flooding also destroyed large concrete and suspension bridges, leaving some settlements partially cut off. Surviving homes and businesses still lack electricity, with damaged poles and power lines remaining in the mud.
Local residents told the AP that due to constant warnings, they have had to repeatedly evacuate to higher ground, including at night.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry is searching for female tourists who were possibly in the disaster zone on the Nepal-China border. Later, the ministry said a third Kazakhstani woman may also have been in the affected area. The search for all three is ongoing.