Death toll in devastating Himalayan floods rises to nearly 1,400

Chandrika Shrestha, 64, is rescued alive from a damaged house in Betrawati Bazaar 10 days after flash floods struck Rasuwa and surrounding areas near the Nepal-China border.

The confirmed death toll from the flash floods in the Himalayas rises to nearly 1,400, with 1,341 deaths recorded on the Nepalese side and 43 in Tibet, while over 5,000 people are still missing.

The flash floods swept away 11 hydropower plants and a solar power facility, with hundreds of workers missing and believed to be trapped in tunnels and shafts, as recovery and search operations continue with assistance from specialist teams from India, China, and South Korea.

The confirmed death toll from the flash floods in the Himalayas rose to nearly 1,400 on Sunday, authorities in Nepal and China reported.

The majority, 1,341 deaths, were recorded on the Nepalese side. In Tibet, the number rose from 31 to 43 late on Sunday. More than 5,000 people are still missing.

Recovery and search operations are continuing. On Saturday, rescue workers in Nepal recovered two survivors. The chances of finding anyone alive beneath the rubble are diminishing rapidly.

The flash flood swept away a total of 11 hydropower plants that were either operational or under construction, as well as a solar power facility. Hundreds of workers are among the missing. Many are still believed to be trapped in tunnels and shafts at the facilities.

Specialist teams from India, China and South Korea continued to assist the Nepalese army with search-and-rescue operations, the Foreign Ministry in Kathmandu said.