The death toll from an unprecedented flash flood at the Nepal-Tibet border has risen to 1,252, with an additional 4,216 people still missing, according to the Nepali Government’s National Disaster Management Authority. Chinese state media reported 16 deaths and 546 missing in Tibet, bringing the combined toll to 1,268 dead and 4,762 missing on both sides of the border.
Relief and rescue operations are ongoing, aided by international and domestic support. Nearly all communication towers have been restored, and approximately 12,000 people have been rescued. Over 21,500 security personnel have been mobilized to accelerate search and rescue efforts, and more than 5,000 individuals are receiving treatment for injuries.
Nepal's Prime Minister Shah indicated that the government would shift its focus to rehabilitation as the time elapsed since the disaster increases. The flooding, attributed to a glacial lake outburst, has prompted renewed discussions about anthropogenic climate change. The World Meteorological Organisation has forecast a "very strong" El Nino, which heightens the potential for extreme weather events.