Nepal flood death toll rises to over 600, with 3,000 still missing

The provisional death toll has reached 633, with 626 in Nepal and seven in China's Tibet region. Additionally, seven bodies were found downstream in northern India, though identification is pending. Nearly 3,000 people remain missing, including 2,426 in Nepal and 556 on the Chinese side.

Tens of thousands of residents have been affected by the disaster, with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimating around 93,000 people impacted. The search efforts are hampered by thick mud, debris, and destroyed infrastructure, making access to affected areas difficult. The catastrophe, initially misidentified as a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, was caused by a glacier collapse that released a large volume of water and material, transforming a river into a destructive torrent.

The Nepalese government is prioritizing the search for survivors and anticipates reconstruction costs in the billions of dollars. In China, thousands of rescuers are working in difficult-to-access areas, including the Gyirong border post. Operations are also threatened by the potential rupture of a lake formed after the glacier collapse.

In Nepal, over 80 rescuers are attempting to reach a tunnel at the Trishuli-3 dam construction site, where approximately 100 people are believed to be trapped. Over 350 workers and residents have already been eva