Nepal is facing one of its worst natural disasters in recent years after devastating floods and landslides swept through several areas, leaving more than 700 people dead and over 3,000 missing.
The disaster has triggered a massive search-and-rescue operation, with authorities working to reach people stranded in remote and severely affected areas.
What Happened?
The disaster struck on August 26 near the Nepal-Tibet border, when sudden flooding and landslides caused widespread destruction. A possible glacial-related event and huge volumes of debris are believed to have intensified the flooding.
Fast-moving water and debris damaged or destroyed homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure, leaving several communities cut off.
Thousands Still Missing
The fate of more than 3,000 people remains unknown, raising fears that the death toll could increase.
Among those reported missing are local residents, foreign nationals and workers associated with hydropower projects. Some people are also believed to be trapped inside tunnels and other structures at project sites.
Rescue teams are facing major challenges, including damaged roads, landslides, difficult mountainous terrain and continuing bad weather.
Helicopters are being used to evacuate stranded people and deliver emergency assistance to areas that remain difficult to access.
Identifying the Victims
Authorities are also struggling to identify many of the bodies recovered from the disaster zone.
With some victims difficult to identify visually, officials have begun using DNA samples and forensic records to help establish their identities. Unidentified bodies have also been temporarily buried, with authorities expected to facilitate identification and handover to families later.
Relief and Rescue Efforts Underway
Nepal has intensified its rescue and relief operations across the affected regions. Thousands of people have already been evacuated, while emergency teams continue searching for those who remain missing.
Several countries, including India, have also extended assistance to Nepal by providing relief supplies and other support.
For now, the biggest challenges remain reaching isolated communities, locating missing people and providing essential supplies to survivors.
With rescue operations still underway, authorities continue to assess the full scale of the destruction. The number of casualties and missing people could change as teams gain access to areas that remain cut off.
