The Red Cross estimated on Friday that the floods and landslides that swept through Nepal and Tibet directly affected at least 93,000 people on the Nepalese side of the border alone, where the official death toll reached 579, at a time when rescue teams are still struggling to access affected areas.
The number of missing jumped to 1,900 after information that 993 workers from energy sector projects were in the region, expanding the total number of missing — combined with the Chinese autonomous region — to 2,400.
The constant rain and forecast of more precipitation in the coming days is a cause for concern for search operations. Authorities on both sides of the border are monitoring two dammed lakes that threaten to burst, in addition to the possibility of new glaciers giving way, which could cause another avalanche.
Hundreds of those missing were preparing for the ascent of Mount Kailash, a pilgrimage site, when the floods occurred.
