Key facts
- Over 93,000 people are estimated to be affected by flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border.
- A glacial collapse triggered the disaster, killing at least 579 people in Nepal and seven in China's Tibet.
- More than 2,000 people were reported missing.
- Four French nationals are among those missing.
- Infrastructure, including over 40 bridges and 40km of road, was destroyed.
- Rescue operations were temporarily suspended due to fears of further flooding from a debris-formed lake.
Four French nationals are among the more than 2,000 people missing following a devastating flash flood near the Nepal-Tibet border, French minister delegate for French nationals abroad Eleonore Caroit confirmed on Friday. The foreign ministry identified 80 French citizens in the area when the disaster struck, with 76 now accounted for.
A glacial collapse on Wednesday unleashed a massive torrent of rock, ice, mud, and debris through Himalayan river systems, killing at least 579 people in Nepal and seven in China's Tibet. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) estimates that over 93,000 people have been affected by the floods.
The torrent obliterated villages and destroyed critical infrastructure, including over 40 bridges and more than 40 kilometers of road. Rescue operations were temporarily suspended due to fears of further flooding from a debris-formed lake, which began overflowing and prompted further evacuations. Six health facilities were damaged, and eight healthcare workers are missing.
Nepal's government has stated it does not currently require foreign assistance for the ongoing search and rescue operations.