Nepal, China Hunt 5,500 Missing After Floods Kill 1,384 as Kathmandu Seeks Climate Aid
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 7
Nepal, China Hunt 5,500 Missing After Floods Kill 1,384 as Kathmandu Seeks Climate Aid
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 7
Summary
Searches entered a 12th day with more than 5,500 people still missing across Nepal and Tibet after floods likely triggered by a glacial collapse killed at least 1,384.
Four survivors have been found since Friday, including three in flooded hydropower tunnels, but rescuers face deep mud, bad weather, landslide risks and poor connectivity on both sides of the border.
In Nepal, 1,341 bodies have been recovered and about 4,996 people remain missing; in Tibet, the toll rose to 43 dead and 519 missing as access to Gyirong only recently reopened for heavy equipment.
Kathmandu has asked the UN-backed Loss and Damage Fund for help, while the UN separately appealed for $50 million to support more than 84,000 people hit by the disaster.
Experts say glacier floods have become nearly five times more frequent since 1950 as temperatures rise, strengthening Nepal's argument that major emitters should help cover climate-driven losses.
How did a worker survive 10 days trapped inside a Himalayan tunnel after a catastrophic glacier collapse?
Could early warning systems have predicted the massive glacier failure that trapped hundreds of workers in Nepal?
Are massive hydropower projects in the Himalayas becoming deadly traps as climate change accelerates glacial melting?
Nepal’s 2026 Trishuli Disaster: Over 1,200 Dead, 5,000 Missing After Glacial Collapse—Rescue, Climate Crisis, and Hydropower Fallout
Overview
Driven by global climate change, rising temperatures in the Himalayas caused glaciers and permafrost to weaken, leading to a massive glacial collapse on August 26, 2026. This triggered a deadly chain reaction: a huge chunk of ice and rock crashed into a river, dammed it, and hours later unleashed a catastrophic flash flood. The disaster killed over a thousand people, left thousands missing, destroyed hydropower plants and infrastructure, and trapped workers deep underground. Despite the devastation, a dramatic rescue nine days later brought hope, while Nepal called for climate justice and urgent international support to rebuild and protect its people.