Search and rescue operations in Nepal and China have entered their fourth day after catastrophic floods hit areas near the border between the two countries, with the number of missing people exceeding 3,000.
More than 600 people have died in Nepal, while seven fatalities have been reported in China. Authorities warn the toll could rise as rescue teams continue to search for missing people in devastated areas.
The situation has been made worse by the difficult conditions on the ground. Nepalese authorities are dealing with a large number of bodies found after the floods, while the temperatures and lack of capacity to preserve them are creating serious problems.
Nepal's Foreign Minister said the government has reached out to other countries for specialized assistance and refrigeration equipment so that the bodies can be managed and the victims identified.
Meanwhile, rescue teams continue to search areas where entire houses have been destroyed by water and mud. Families of missing people are still waiting for information about their relatives. The difficult situation is expected to worsen with more rainfall expected over the weekend in some of the affected areas.
On the Chinese side, state media reported that no signs of survivors had been found at a border crossing that was swept away by the powerful flood wave. Rescue teams are continuing operations in the hope of finding survivors, while authorities warn that the death toll and missing could change in the coming days.
