A major disaster struck the Himalayan region when a glacier at approximately 5,200 meters altitude collapsed on Wednesday, sending massive volumes of water, rock, and debris down into the Lende River valley. The collapse, which involved the glacier plunging roughly 1,200 meters, devastated multiple villages across the border between Nepal and China.
Nepal’s authorities reported 781 deaths with 2,502 people missing as of Sunday, while Chinese state media indicated 16 deaths in its territory with 546 individuals unaccounted for. The missing include significant numbers of foreign nationals from both countries. The disaster has affected an estimated 90,000 people according to Red Cross assessments. Among those unaccounted for are more than 100 workers believed trapped inside several hydroelectric tunnel systems in the region.
The glacier collapse created a new lake straddling the Nepal-China border that has begun overflowing into Nepal’s Lhende and Trishuli Rivers, raising concerns about secondary flooding impacts. Search and rescue operations have faced repeated suspensions since Friday due to adverse weather conditions and risks of additional water-related hazards in the affected areas.
Nepalese authorities began mass burial procedures on Sunday in Chitwan district following DNA sample collection, as many bodies were swept away by floodwaters, complicating identification efforts for families. International rescue teams from India, China, South Korea, and Malaysia have mobilized to assist with search operations. Financial support has begun arriving, with the European Union pledging $2.3m and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies allocating over $1m while launching an emergency appeal for $31m in additional funds.
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