NEPAL WARNS OF NEW FLOODING AS DEATH TOLL FROM CATASTROPHIC HIMALAYAN FLOODS NEARS 800.(PHOTO).

 Nepal warns of new flooding as death toll from catastrophic Himalayan floods nears 800

Authorities in Nepal warned Sunday of possible additional flooding and urged residents in areas already devastated by catastrophic floods to remain vigilant after water levels rose in the Bhotekoshi River.

The warnings were sent to residents’ phones early Sunday as rescue crews worked to reopen a major highway linking Kathmandu with some of the hardest-hit areas. Wednesday’s disaster has killed at least 788 people in Nepal, while 16 deaths have been reported across the border in Tibet. More than 3,000 people remain missing on both sides of the border.

The renewed threat followed warnings from Chinese authorities about increased water flow upstream. A lake formed high in the mountains after Wednesday’s floods has largely drained, but officials said a crater several miles upstream still contains an estimated 1.4 million cubic meters of water and could pose a continuing danger.

Nepal’s disaster agency reported 2,502 people missing, while Chinese authorities said 546 people remain unaccounted for in Tibet. Hundreds of those missing are foreign nationals who were in the region for work, tourism or religious pilgrimages. Chinese state media reported that 261 foreigners were missing in Tibet, including more than 100 Nepalis.

In Dhading, one of Nepal’s hardest-hit regions, residents returned to damaged homes to search through mud and debris for anything they could salvage. Many buildings were left with walls washed away, while thick sediment covered surrounding areas.

Sharmila Tamang, a resident trying to recover belongings from her destroyed home, said little remained after the flooding.

At a badly damaged power plant, workers began assessing the destruction Sunday. The facility supplies electricity to more than 20,000 people across four districts.

In Galchhi, residents gathered on a bridge to watch the swollen river rush past. Massive rocks carried downstream by the floods remained scattered along the riverbanks, while people on a suspension bridge were warned away from dangerous areas.

Homes, vehicles and farm equipment were partially buried in thick gray-brown sediment in some villages. Landslides also caused sections of rice terraces along the river to collapse into the water.

Many surviving homes and businesses remained without electricity Sunday, with damaged utility poles and tangled wires buried in the mud. Residents said they have been receiving repeated flood warnings since the initial disaster, leaving some families afraid they may have to flee to higher ground again.

Govind Shreshta, a resident of one affected community, said the repeated evacuations have been particularly difficult because he is caring for his elderly parents.

Numerous bridges were destroyed by the flooding, cutting off communities and making travel and rescue efforts more difficult.

The original flash floods were triggered by a collapse in the Himalayan region. Scientists examining satellite imagery said bedrock beneath a glacier gave way, carrying part of the glacier with it. The massive rockfall was powerful enough to register as a magnitude 5.2 earthquake.

The resulting surge of rocks and meltwater overwhelmed rivers in the valleys below, sending a torrent through parts of Tibet and Nepal that destroyed buildings, bridges and large sections of terrain.

Nepal’s foreign minister has called for an international response to climate change, arguing that the country is suffering a disproportionate share of the effects despite contributing only a small fraction of global emissions.

Scientists caution that it is too early to directly link Wednesday’s disaster to climate change. However, rising global temperatures caused by human activities are increasing the likelihood of extreme events in vulnerable regions, including the rapidly warming Himalayas.

Malaysia also announced plans to send a search-and-rescue team to Nepal to assist with relief operations and help evacuate Malaysian citizens affected by the disaster. The country has additionally pledged $1 million in financial assistance to Nepal.