Nepal Flood Rescue Temporarily Suspended Due to Bad Weather, Foreign Technical Aid Needed for Disaster Response

Heavy flooding in Nepal on August 26 caused widespread destruction, and search and rescue operations were temporarily suspended on August 29 due to adverse weather conditions, according to reports.

The Nepalese government stated that foreign technical assistance is needed to effectively address the disaster.

Nepal's finance minister told Reuters that the Himalayan nation, with a population of approximately 30 million, may need between $4 billion and $5 billion to rebuild from the flood damage that occurred on August 26.

The floods were triggered by a glacial lake outburst, sending torrents of rocks, ice, mud, and debris rushing down mountain river channels.

The torrents destroyed buildings, bridges, and hydropower plants along their paths, killing at least 626 people in Nepal and 7 in China's Tibet region.

As of now, nearly 3,000 people remain missing in Nepal, including at least 554 in Gyirong County in Tibet, with a total of 2,426 missing in Nepal. Among the missing are at least 540 foreigners, most of whom are Hindu pilgrims from India, according to reports.

Ref & Photo; Reuters