The death toll following the avalanche of mud and debris that hit the border between Nepal and Tibet, in China, rose to 362, according to reports released this Thursday (27) by authorities in both countries. Nepalese police count 359 deaths in Nepal, while Chinese state media reported three deaths on the Tibetan side.
Rescue teams are searching for more than 1,300 missing people in the region hit by floods on Wednesday morning (26).
Footage recorded by a security camera on the Chinese side shows a wall of mud and debris hitting a multi-story building as dozens of people run to escape. The force of the flood also swept away buses, cars, houses and infrastructure structures.
The disaster was caused by the collapse of a glacier, which triggered a flow of water, ice, rocks and debris through the region’s valleys. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) initially identified a seismic signal associated with the episode, but later concluded that it was not an earthquake.
In Nepal, the flood hit the Trishuli river valley, in the Nuwakot district, north of Kathmandu, and the Bhote Koshi valley, east of the capital. Entire villages were destroyed, and roads and bridges were damaged, making access difficult for emergency teams.
The director of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Nepal, David Fisher, said that “entire villages and market areas were destroyed”.
The Nepalese Army uses helicopters to rescue survivors and evacuate injured people from the most affected areas. Teams are also working to evacuate people who remain in regions prone to further flooding.
Pope Leo 14 sends condolences to Nepal
Pope Leo the 14th sent a telegram of condolences to Nepal this Thursday (27). In a document signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pontiff stated that he was “saddened” to learn of the “loss of life and devastation” caused by the floods.
“In entrusting the souls of the deceased to the mercy of the Almighty, His Holiness expresses his sincere condolences to the bereaved, assuring his spiritual closeness to those affected by this tragedy,” says the telegram, released by the Holy See.
The pope also offered prayers for the emergency teams working in rescue operations and asked for divine protection for everyone involved. The document does not mention victims on the Chinese side of the border.
Risk of new flooding
Experts warn of the risk of new flooding due to a blockage in a river in the border region between Nepal and China. On the Tibetan side, authorities are also monitoring the formation of an area dammed by the movement of earth and ice.
Floods and landslides are frequent in South Asia during the monsoon season, between June and September. Scientists say that climate change has contributed to an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events in the region.
*With information from AFP.
**Updated at 10:48 am
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
