China and Nepal Search for Thousands Missing After Devastating Floods

Rescue teams in Nepal and China are continuing an urgent search for thousands of people still missing nearly two weeks after catastrophic flooding struck communities along the countries' shared border.

The disaster, which authorities believe may have been triggered by the collapse of a glacier last month, has killed at least 1,384 people across Nepal and China and left more than 5,500 others unaccounted for. Around 800 of those missing are believed to be foreign nationals.

Nepal has suffered the greatest losses, with 1,341 bodies recovered and approximately 4,996 people still missing, according to the country's national disaster agency.

In Tibet, the death toll has reached 43, while another 519 people remain missing, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Rescue efforts have continued to produce occasional signs of hope. Four people have been found alive since Friday, including three who were discovered inside tunnels at hydropower facilities.

Authorities had initially estimated that about 100 people could still be trapped inside the tunnels, but rescuers are facing significant difficulties reaching and searching the flooded sites.

Nepal's Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha said teams were continuing their operations despite challenging terrain, worsening weather and limited communications.

"Search and rescue is going on at the tunnels despite geography, adverse weather and lack of connectivity," Shrestha told AFP.

On the Chinese side of the border, rescue operations have also been hampered by thick layers of mud, poor weather and the continuing threat of landslides.

At Gyirong, a key Chinese land port connecting Tibet with Nepal, a five-storey customs building was destroyed in the floods. Rescue workers are now using shovels, excavators and ground-penetrating radar as they search through the debris for survivors and victims.

Access to the remote area has also complicated the response. The only road leading into Gyirong was reopened on Wednesday, allowing heavier rescue machinery and other essential equipment to reach the disaster zone.

With thousands still unaccounted for, teams on both sides of the border are racing against time to locate survivors and recover those who remain missing.