The toll from the disaster in Nepal and Tibet is worsening significantly. According to data released by the authorities, more than 1,000 people have lost their lives in floods and massive landslides, while thousands of others remain missing in one of the heaviest blows to the Himalayan region.
The latest figures point to a catastrophe on a massive scale
According to the latest toll, 987 people have died in Nepal and another 13 in China’s Tibet region. Across both areas, 4,462 people are still reported missing.
The high numbers of victims and missing people show that the real scale of the catastrophe remains unclear, while operations on the ground are continuing under difficult conditions.
Workers trapped at hydropower plants, rescue efforts continue in isolated areas
The disaster has caused major damage to infrastructure, especially in the mountainous areas of the Himalayas, where hundreds of people have been trapped at hydropower plants.
Rescue teams have used temporary bridges and heavy machinery to enter isolated areas. So far, about 279 workers have been pulled out alive from the hydropower plants, while hundreds of others remain trapped.
Authorities speak of thousands rescued and partial restoration of access
According to a statement by Nepal’s prime minister, Balendra Shah, more than 11,000 people have been rescued so far. According to the official version, electricity, communications and road access have been restored in some of the hardest-hit areas.
One of the areas where access has been restored is Nuwakot, described as among the worst affected. The reopening of roads has made it possible to continue search-and-rescue operations and deliver food and other aid.
International aid and the heavy cost of reconstruction
Nepal has received more than $42 million in international aid, while India and China are contributing to rescue operations and the restoration of links with isolated areas.
Nepalese authorities warn that reconstruction after this disaster could cost billions of dollars, adding pressure on the country’s economy.
Climate warning and rising risk in the Himalayas
Prime Minister Shah has linked the worsening disasters in the Himalayas to climate change, saying the risks for the region are increasing.
Nepal remains particularly exposed to floods and landslides because of its mountainous terrain, while the melting of Himalayan glaciers is considered a serious threat to millions of people who depend on the waters of this region. UN experts have also warned that climate change is making such disasters more frequent and more intense.
With thousands of people still missing and entire areas continuing to be difficult to reach, the full scale of this tragedy is still unfolding.
Beyond the heavy human toll, the catastrophe is once again highlighting the vulnerability of the Himalayan region to extreme weather and the high costs left behind by every disaster of this scale.