Nepal resumed search and rescue operations on Saturday after a brief weather-related suspension following a flood that killed at least 669 people in the country and seven in Tibet. The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse on Wednesday, resulted in nearly 3,000 people being reported missing across the region.
The flooding was caused by a torrent of rock, ice, and mud that swept away buildings, bridges, and power stations. Authorities had temporarily suspended rescue efforts due to rain and fog, as well as concerns over a lake straddling the Nepal-China border that began overflowing. By Saturday, Chinese state media and satellite images indicated the risk from the lake had eased as water levels began to drain.
Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal stated that the country requires specialized foreign technical assistance for tunnel rescues, DNA identification for decomposed bodies, and the restoration of transport and communication infrastructure. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle estimated that reconstruction costs would range between $4 billion and $5 billion.
The disaster affects the families of the 2,426 people missing in Nepal and 554 in Tibet's Gyirong County. Among the missing are at least 540 foreign nationals, including 275 Indian citizens and 91 Malaysians. Families in Kathmandu and Malaysia have reported that a lack of information regarding their relatives has been painful as they wait for updates from government verification efforts.
The $4 billion to $5 billion reconstruction estimate represents a significant portion of the national economy for the nation of 30 million people. Residents in districts such as Nuwakot have seen homes destroyed by the flash floods and mudslides. The destruction of bridges and roads has cut off communities, requiring rescue teams in Tibet's Gyirong crossing to navigate cliffs and forests to reach the site.
In the coming days, authorities will begin burying recovered bodies that have decomposed beyond recognition to prevent disease outbreaks. DNA samples are being collected to assist with future identification. While Indian and Chinese tunnel experts have been dispatched and Indian relief flights have arrived, the full restoration of power stations and transport lines remains pending as assessments of the total loss and damage continue. Recovery operations at the Gyirong border crossing and other mountain sites are ongoing as weather conditions permit.