Rescue operations are underway to locate hundreds of individuals missing along the Nepal-Tibet border after a glacier collapse triggered a devastating flood. Reports from authorities in Nepal and China indicate that over 390 people have lost their lives, with more than 1,400 individuals unaccounted for. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand mentioned concerns about 30 Canadians and permanent residents in the affected region, including a couple from Port Moody, B.C., identified as Dhaval and Megha Shah. The couple, on a spiritual journey in Nepal, were last heard from on Tuesday night while staying at Hotel Kailash.
Global Affairs Canada is dispatching five consular officials to Kathmandu to aid Canadians and collaborate with local authorities. The Nepal Tourism Board had previously reported 25 missing Canadians. The catastrophic event caused significant destruction in the region, with mud-covered buildings in Nuwakot and debris scattered around. The United Nations has allocated $2 million from its emergency fund for medical assistance, shelter, and water provisions.
Nepal bore the brunt of the disaster, with the majority of casualties and missing individuals reported there. Meanwhile, China noted nearly 100 of its citizens missing on the Nepalese side. The Nepalese army conducted helicopter rescues, saving over 100 people from flood-affected areas. Relief efforts have shifted towards providing aid to those affected, with the focus on large-scale operations. The disaster was attributed to a glacier avalanche, leading to severe flooding and mudslides in the region.
The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed that the event was a glacier collapse, not an earthquake, causing a massive flood wave. Climate experts reported that melting glaciers in the region are increasingly common due to climate change. The scale of the disaster has prompted international response and humanitarian efforts to assist the affected communities in Nepal and Tibet.