Nepal-China floods death toll crosses 1,000

The death toll from devastating floods in Nepal and China has crossed 1,000, authorities said Tuesday, as rescue teams continued efforts to reach people stranded in remote areas.

Nepal’s disaster management authorities said 987 people had died in the country, while 3,916 others remained missing. Among the missing are 583 foreign nationals.

Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths in their latest update on Sunday.

So far, at least 11,814 people have been rescued in Nepal, according to officials. Rescue teams are using helicopters and other aircraft to reach communities cut off after floods and landslides destroyed roads and bridges.

The disaster began on August 26 following a series of events in the high Himalayan region. A glacier collapse sent huge amounts of rock, ice and melting water into nearby valleys, triggering powerful floods downstream.

Scientists analysing satellite images said the incident appears to have been caused by the collapse of rock beneath a glacier in the Himalayas. The massive rockfall was strong enough to produce a seismic event measuring 5.2 in magnitude.

The sudden flow of water and debris then entered rivers running through Tibet and Nepal, causing water levels to rise rapidly.

The floods swept away homes, buildings, roads and bridges, while large amounts of mud and rocks were carried downstream, causing widespread destruction. -UNB