At least three fatalities have been confirmed following fierce flash floods that occurred on Tuesday, as the disaster devastated the vital bridge linking Nepal to China. Rescue teams are actively searching for missing individuals, with many unaccounted for.
Deadly Flash Floods Ravage Nepal, Destroy Crucial Bridge to China
Deadly Flash Floods Ravage Nepal, Destroy Crucial Bridge to China
Search and rescue operations are ongoing after catastrophic flooding resulted in fatalities and infrastructure damage in Nepal.
Flash floods driven by monsoon rains struck the Rasuwa district, where the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge is located. Officials report significant destruction to the customs yard at the border, where numerous vehicles and cargo containers were parked. The heavy rains have also resulted in widespread power outages due to damaged hydropower infrastructure.
Nepalese military and police forces utilized helicopters to conduct rescues of nine individuals, while continuing their efforts to locate others, which include three police officers, nine local civilians, and six Chinese nationals. According to police spokesman Binod Ghimire, the missing officers were caught in the floods while trying to assist in ongoing rescue operations. The missing civilians primarily consisted of drivers involved in border-crossing logistics.
The topography of Nepal makes it particularly vulnerable to flash floods, and the severity of such disasters has increased in recent years due to climate change influences. Erratic weather patterns, including intense rainfall and the resulting floods and landslides, have posed serious threats to local communities reliant on agriculture.
Last year's monsoon season claimed 495 lives across Nepal due to similar natural disasters. The current monsoon, which spans from early June to September, has already had devastating repercussions, with at least 14 fatalities recorded within the past 24 hours across India as well, notably in Himachal Pradesh, where close to 80 people have died since late June due to heavy rains, floods, and landslides.
Nepalese military and police forces utilized helicopters to conduct rescues of nine individuals, while continuing their efforts to locate others, which include three police officers, nine local civilians, and six Chinese nationals. According to police spokesman Binod Ghimire, the missing officers were caught in the floods while trying to assist in ongoing rescue operations. The missing civilians primarily consisted of drivers involved in border-crossing logistics.
The topography of Nepal makes it particularly vulnerable to flash floods, and the severity of such disasters has increased in recent years due to climate change influences. Erratic weather patterns, including intense rainfall and the resulting floods and landslides, have posed serious threats to local communities reliant on agriculture.
Last year's monsoon season claimed 495 lives across Nepal due to similar natural disasters. The current monsoon, which spans from early June to September, has already had devastating repercussions, with at least 14 fatalities recorded within the past 24 hours across India as well, notably in Himachal Pradesh, where close to 80 people have died since late June due to heavy rains, floods, and landslides.
