Nepal, China Search for Thousands Missing After Deadly Himalayan Glacial Collapse

Rescuers face mud, rising floodwaters and unstable terrain as a massive ice-and-debris surge devastates communities along the China-Nepal border

Rescue teams in Nepal and China are racing to locate thousands of people missing after a massive wall of water, ice and debris swept through communities along the Himalayas, destroying settlements and leaving hundreds dead.

Authorities in the two countries have reported more than 3,000 people missing and at least 750 confirmed deaths, while concerns remain that some victims may have been carried downstream into India.

The disaster struck early Wednesday along the China-Nepal border after what the US Geological Survey described as a glacial collapse triggered a powerful surge of water and debris downstream.

Rescue operation enters critical phase

In Nepal, army personnel and engineers were working Sunday to rescue workers believed to be trapped inside a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric project.

Rescuers successfully inserted a pipe into the tunnel and began supplying air through the opening, according to Nepali Home Minister Sudan Gurung.

However, heavy rains and rising river levels have complicated the operation, with disaster authorities warning rescue teams to exercise extreme caution.

Nepal's disaster authorities said 933 hydropower workers were among those reported missing, highlighting the devastating impact on the country's extensive energy infrastructure.

Glacial collapse triggered disaster

China's state news agency Xinhua reported that experts had determined that a glacier on the southern slope of Lirung Peak in Nepal fractured, triggering an ice-and-rock avalanche.

The resulting torrent travelled more than 20 kilometres before reaching Gyirong Port in Tibet, carrying enormous quantities of ice, rock and mud.

UN climate chief Simon Stiell described the disaster as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of mountain environments.

The sudden collapse has also created large bodies of water in the affected region, raising concerns about further flooding.

Survivors search for missing relatives

The scale of destruction has left survivors facing an agonising wait for information about relatives and loved ones.

In Nepal's Nuwakot district, survivor Buddhi Ram Dangol described the devastation simply.

“All the settlements near the river were swept away,” he said. “There is nothing left.”

At an army base in Bidur being used as a rescue coordination centre, relatives gathered around lists of rescued people in the hope of finding missing family members.

“I have come here looking for my son,” Kalka Sharda said as she searched the names.

Nepal's disaster authorities said 589 foreigners, including trekkers and Hindu pilgrims travelling towards Tibet's sacred Mount Kailash, were among those unaccounted for.

The Isha Foundation, led by Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru, said 80 members had been travelling in the affected area.

International aid begins arriving

The scale of the disaster has prompted international governments and humanitarian organisations to pledge emergency assistance to Nepal.

The United States and Canada have each committed $3.6 million in humanitarian aid, while the United Kingdom has offered $6.8 million.

The United Nations has released $2.5 million in emergency funding, while the European Union has pledged $2.3 million.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has allocated more than $1 million and launched an emergency appeal seeking an additional $31 million.

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal warned that reconstruction could eventually cost billions of dollars, given the scale of destruction.

He has appealed for specialised equipment, including heavy-lift drones and technology capable of locating people trapped beneath debris.

Authorities are also seeking forensic testing equipment to help identify recovered bodies and freezer units for temporary storage.

China and Nepal coordinate response

The foreign ministers of China and Nepal spoke on Saturday and discussed the sharing of satellite imagery and hydrological data to support the emergency response.

In Tibet, Chinese authorities temporarily suspended rescue operations in the hardest-hit area of Gyirong because of concerns over a newly formed lake that threatened additional flooding.

China's state broadcaster CCTV later reported that the lake was naturally discharging and had been largely drained.

Xinhua reported that 2,141 rescuers were deployed around the Gyirong site, including more than 500 personnel working in the worst-affected area.

Death toll continues to rise

Nepal reported 734 deaths on Sunday, with 2,498 people out of contact, including hundreds of foreigners.

Across the border in Tibet, Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing.

Authorities also said they had evacuated 555 stranded tourists and 499 Chinese residents from affected areas of Tibet.

Meanwhile, Indian authorities reported recovering seven bodies from rivers flowing from Nepal, with the victims believed to have been swept downstream by the floods.

With rain continuing in parts of the region and unstable terrain complicating rescue efforts, authorities remain on high alert for additional flooding and landslides as teams continue searching for survivors and missing people.