The death toll from a catastrophic flood along the Nepal-China border continues to climb, with over 350 people confirmed dead and more than 1,300 still missing — including at least 60 Americans, according to officials. The disaster, which struck with little warning, has devastated communities and prompted an international relief effort even as fears grow of another flood wave.
Basanta Raj Adhikari, director of the Center for Disaster Studies at Tribhuvan University in Nepal, told the Daily Wire that “second and third waves” of flooding were possible, though he cautioned, “We don’t know yet.” The flood’s sudden onset is one reason the death toll is so high. Water and debris can travel dozens of miles within hours, leaving residents and rescue crews almost no time to evacuate before the wall of water arrives.
That same unpredictability is now complicating search and rescue operations. The threat of additional flooding endangers the nearly 10,000 security personnel — drawn from the police, army, and armed police force — that Nepal has mobilized to comb through the wreckage. Rescue efforts are also being hampered by a lack of resources, according to officials on the ground.
“Tsunami from the sky”
The deluge swept through the region, snapping bridges, toppling buildings, and stranding survivors in its wake. The president of the Nepal Center for Disaster Management described the flood as a “tsunami from the sky,” adding that “everything on the way was completely washed out.” The scale of destruction has made the search for the missing slow and dangerous, and officials expect the death toll to rise further.
Nepal, a country known for its Himalayan peaks, Mount Everest, and trekking trails, is in the middle of its peak tourist season. From September through November, clear skies and mild temperatures typically draw thousands of climbers and trekkers — a fact that may help explain the high number of foreigners caught in the disaster. More than 700 foreigners are reported missing, including at least 60 Americans.
International response
Countries have begun lining up to offer aid. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department “stands ready to support the Government of Nepal” and pledged $500,000 in emergency assistance. Chinese President Xi Jinping also offered help and called for an extensive search effort; over 250 people are missing on the Chinese side of the border. India, which has a large number of its citizens unaccounted for, has sent more than 100,000 pounds of aid, including temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, lamps, and water bottles. The United Nations has reportedly dispatched emergency supplies as well.
With the threat of a second flood looming, rescue crews are racing against time — and against the elements — to reach survivors before the next wave of water hits. The international community is mobilizing, but officials warn that the situation remains fluid and that the final toll may not be known for days or even weeks.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/at-least-60-americans-missing-as-nepal-death-toll-rises-and-second-flood-threat-looms