Rescue operations are intensifying in the remote border region of Nepal and Tibet after the death toll from Saturday's catastrophic flood jumped sharply from the previously reported 160 to at least 392, according to the latest official figures. Hundreds remain unaccounted for, and authorities have confirmed that at least 35 Australians are among the missing.
The disaster struck when a Himalayan glacier collapsed, triggering a massive avalanche of mud, water, ice and rocks that tore through communities along the Nepal-Tibet border. Witnesses described a sudden wall of debris that engulfed crowds with no warning. The flood also generated seismic tremors recorded by local monitoring stations.
International search-and-rescue teams have been deployed to the affected area, which is characterized by steep terrain, narrow valleys and limited road access. Helicopters are being used to reach cut-off villages, while ground crews work through thick sludge and unstable debris. The Nepalese government has declared a state of emergency in the worst-hit districts.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the families of the missing Australians and is coordinating with Nepalese authorities. Canberra has not yet confirmed whether any Australians are among the confirmed dead.
Hundreds of families are anxiously awaiting news of loved ones, and local hospitals are overwhelmed with the injured. The full extent of the destruction is still being assessed, but officials warn the death toll may rise further as more remote areas are reached.
The disaster has drawn attention to the increasing instability of Himalayan glaciers amid rising global temperatures, with scientists warning that such glacial lake outburst floods and ice avalanches are likely to become more frequent and severe.