Nepal on High Alert for More Flooding After Death Toll Passes 900

People living in flood-damaged areas of Nepal were warned to stay on high alert after water levels rose again in a major river. The country's disaster agency reported that at least 903 people have died and 4,247 are still missing after deadly flash floods struck on Wednesday. Rescue teams are working around the clock to help survivors and clear a key highway connecting Kathmandu to one of the hardest-hit areas. On the Chinese side of the border, officials reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing.

Flood warning messages were sent to people's phones early Sunday after water levels rose in the Bhotekoshi River. Officials in China warned their Nepalese partners that more water was flowing downstream. Dharam Raj Uprety, the head of Nepal's disaster management agency, confirmed that China shared this information to help keep people safe. For many families, the constant flood alerts have been overwhelming and exhausting.

Govind Shreshta, a local resident, described what life has been like since the floods began. "Sometimes they say a flood is coming, then we have to run again to higher ground, even at night," he said. "I have a 72-year-old father and 70-year-old mom. I must carry them and I am exhausted." His story shows how especially hard the situation has been for elderly people and the family members who care for them.

In Dhading, one of the worst-hit regions, some residents began returning to their ruined homes to see if anything could be saved. People shoveled thick mud off balconies and searched through debris for belongings they could clean and keep. One man even returned to find his chickens — and was relieved to discover them alive. Sharmila Tamang captured the sadness of many when she said, "Everything is finished. Nothing is left. Not even our home."

Workers began inspecting a major power plant that was badly damaged in the floods. The plant provides electricity to more than 20,000 people across four districts, making it a top priority for recovery. Crews had to survey all the damage before any repairs could begin. Getting the plant running again is a critical step in helping communities rebuild.

The United States government said that 85 American citizens are currently unaccounted for in Nepal. A State Department spokesperson named Tommy Pigott said nine Americans have been safely evacuated and that officials are not aware of any American deaths so far. The U.S. activated $3.6 million in emergency aid, which includes up to three months of food for as many as 10,000 families. American officials said they are working closely with Nepal's government to figure out what kind of help is most needed.

Many people from other countries are also among the missing. Hundreds of visitors from more than a dozen nations had been in the region to work, hike, or make a religious journey to a sacred mountain. Chinese state media reported 261 foreigners missing in Tibet, including more than a hundred people from Nepal. Malaysia announced it would send a search-and-rescue team to Nepal and donate $1 million to help with relief efforts.

Scientists say the disaster began when a glacier high in the Himalayan mountains collapsed. Satellite images showed that bedrock underneath the glacier gave way, causing a massive rockfall that registered like a magnitude 5.2 earthquake. The rocks and melted ice water rushed into the valleys below, swelling rivers and sweeping away buildings, bridges, and soil across both Tibet and Nepal. The scale of destruction left entire communities in ruins.

Nepal's foreign minister urged the world to take climate change seriously, noting that Nepal produces only 0.1% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions yet suffers some of the worst effects. Scientists say it is too early to directly blame global warming for this specific disaster. However, they warn that as Earth gets warmer due to the burning of oil, gas, and coal, events like this will become more common. The Himalayan mountains are heating up much faster than most other places on Earth, making the region especially vulnerable.