Nepalese authorities have warned of a renewed flood threat in a badly hit Himalayan border region, where floodwaters, mud and debris have left parts of the area resembling swampland.
Rescue and relief teams are continuing to assess the damage as officials monitor unstable conditions upstream and warn that further flooding could endanger communities already cut off by the disaster.
Families Search Graphic Mortuary Photos As Nepal Flood Casualties Rise
Barrier Lake Formed After Nepal Flash Flood ‘Draining Naturally’, Chinese State Media Says
A barrier lake formed after the Nepal flash floods is draining naturally and has been largely cleared, according to Chinese state media.
Chinese Central TV reported that the lake is draining on its own, citing a hydrological monitoring team from China’s Ministry of Water Resources.
The lake had formed after debris from the flash floods created a natural blockage, raising fears of secondary mudslides or landslides.
Professor Liz Stephens, an expert in Climate Risk and Resilience at the University of Reading, said water levels appeared to have started falling on Friday, suggesting some of the water had escaped naturally rather than through human intervention.
She said that was “very promising” because it reduced the immediate threat and could reduce the need for an engineering operation to drain the lake artificially.
However, she warned that the debris forming the dam remains unstable, adding that the flood had “enormous erosional power” and may have left behind a dangerous landscape.
Stephens said continued monitoring for further landslides remains critically important.
Police Recover 668 Bodies After Nepal Floods As Thousands Remain Missing
Police in Nepal say 668 bodies have now been recovered after the deadly floods, as authorities continue to search for around 2,500 people still missing.
The latest police update gave a district-by-district breakdown of recovered bodies, with the highest number recorded in Chitwan, where 248 bodies have been found.
Police said 158 bodies had been recovered in Nawalparasi East, 65 in Nawalparasi West, 54 in Gorkha, 49 in Dhading, 49 in Nuwakot, 31 in Tanahun and 13 in Rasuwa.
The listed district figures amount to 667 bodies, and it is not yet clear where the remaining person was found.
Rescue and recovery efforts are continuing across areas devastated by the floods, with officials warning that thousands of people remain unaccounted for.
Bodies Arriving ‘Continuously’ At Nepal Morgue As Death Toll Reaches 626
Bodies are arriving “continuously” at a morgue in Nepal following the deadly flash floods, an official has said, as authorities struggle with the scale of the disaster.
Kuman Singh Gurung, Kaski’s chief district officer, told Reuters that bodies had been received from multiple locations, including nine from Tanahun, 27 from Nawalparasi East and 20 from Dhading districts.
Kaski is in Gandaki Province, west of the main disaster zone.
The death toll from Wednesday’s floods has risen to at least 626, with officials in another district saying hundreds of bodies are no longer identifiable.
Speaking earlier at a press conference, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the country had asked foreign governments and international institutions to provide freezers to help preserve bodies until families can be located.
“Unfortunately, our capabilities are low,” he said.
UK Rapid Response Team To Arrive In Nepal As Britons Remain Missing
A UK rapid deployment team is due to arrive in Nepal today to support British nationals affected by the deadly floods and assist families searching for missing relatives.
More than 30 UK nationals are among thousands of people still missing after the disaster, which has left rescue teams working across remote and badly damaged areas.
The team, made up of specially trained crisis response staff, will work alongside the British embassy in Kathmandu and local authorities.
Officials said the team will help coordinate assistance for British nationals arriving at and departing from the airport, support those seeking information about missing relatives, liaise with local authorities and emergency responders, and reinforce consular operations on the ground.
The deployment forms part of the UK’s wider response to the Nepal flooding, which includes a £5m support package for relief and recovery efforts.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The scenes from Nepal are devastating, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected.
“The safety and welfare of British nationals is our top priority. That is why we are deploying a Rapid Deployment Team to Nepal to provide additional support on the ground for British nationals and their families at what is an incredibly difficult time.”
Nepal On High Alert For More Floods As Hardest-Hit Areas Turn To ‘Swampland’
Nepal’s foreign minister has said the country remains on high alert for further flooding, as search and rescue teams struggle to reach areas where floodwaters have turned parts of the terrain into “swampland”.
Shisir Khanal said Nepal’s “immediate priority” is to locate the missing and provide urgent relief after the deadly floods left thousands unaccounted for and devastated communities near the border region.
Speaking at a press briefing, Khanal said 4,451 people have been rescued, including 187 foreign nationals.
He said search and rescue teams, medical teams and emergency responders are working together in affected areas, while authorities are coordinating with families to help identify those still missing.
Diplomats are also facilitating communication with the families of missing foreign nationals.
Khanal appealed to the public to rely on “official verified information” as the scale of the disaster continues to unfold.
He said the risk of secondary flooding is being monitored and that the affected region remains on “high alert”.
The foreign minister said some of the hardest-hit areas can only be reached by helicopter, but parts of the terrain have become so waterlogged that helicopters are unable to land.
He added that Nepal is seeking support for tunnel rescue operations, with two additional Chinese teams expected to assist.
33 Britons Among Hundreds Of Tourists Missing After Nepal Floods
Thirty-three Britons are among hundreds of tourists still missing after deadly flooding in Nepal, as relatives wait for information on loved ones feared to have been caught in flash floods near the Nepal-China border.
Nepal’s tourism board said 420 tourists are among around 2,500 people reported missing after the disaster. It said 184 tourists have been rescued, while three others are in contact with authorities.
Those still unaccounted for include British nationals who had travelled to Nepal and Tibet for pilgrimages, including groups heading towards Mount Kailash, a sacred Hindu site.
Among the missing are 18-year-old Spandan Sahu and his 13-year-old sister Syna Kumari Sahu, who were travelling with their parents, Santosh Sahu and Surabhi Manmath Padhy. Their last known location was reported to be near the Rasuga border while travelling with trekking firm Alpine Trek.
Mala and Bipin Patel are also missing after travelling to the Nepal and Tibet region on a pilgrimage. Their son, Anant Patel, said border logs appeared to show they had crossed from Nepal into Tibet shortly before the floods struck, and appealed for Chinese authorities to act on information about their possible location.
Hema Amin and her sister Hemangini Patel are also unaccounted for after flying from London to Nepal on Saturday evening. Hema’s husband, Sunil Amin, said the family had been unable to get clear answers because of the remote location and scale of the devastation.
Other missing Britons include Pavan and Kavita Haldia, who were part of a South London pilgrimage group. Their son, Prajval Haldia, said the lack of information had left relatives feeling anxious, worried and helpless.
Nepal’s tourism board said the missing tourists include 114 people from India, 27 from China, 20 from South Korea and three from the United States.
