Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal don call on world to embark on “global effort” to tackle climate change. E explain say Nepal be one of the lowest contributors to greenhouse emissions, but e dey among the biggest victims of global warming. For press conference, Khanal say government go do further research, with “joint mechanism” wey Chinese researchers already dey exist, to better understand changes to Himalayas. E ask global community to come together and preserve the Himalayan ecosystem.
The disaster wey happen on Wednesday don cause serious loss. At least 2,426 people dey missing, and death toll don climb to 626. For Kathmandu mortuary, authorities don post pictures of bodies wey dem recover so relatives fit come identify them. The photos dey very graphic, include pictures of children and infants. One woman, wey carry small baby, dey cry hysterically because she lose her father, mother and husband for the flash floods.
Rescue effort dey continue, with more than 180,000 rescuers and almost 40 helicopters dey involved. But e dey hard to reach the worst affected communities because connectivity don break, roads don wash away, and bridges don destroy. Charity CARE say hundreds of emergency kits dey ready, containing solar panels, tarpaulins and water purification supplies. Nepal Army dey move these supplies to Dhunche.
Barrier lake wey form after the flash flooding don dey drain naturally, according to Chinese state media. Liz Stephens, professor for Climate Risks and Resilience at University of Reading, say water levels don start to fall on Friday, wey suggest say some water don escape naturally. E say that one dey very promising, e reduce the imminent threat and may reduce need to intervene with engineering solution. But she warn say the debris wey form dam go remain unstable. She explain say the flood get “enormous erosional power” and e fit don create unstable landscape, so e critically important to monitor for further landslides.
For Sydney, candle-lit vigil don take place to honour those wey the devastating flash flood affect. Around 100 people gather to light candles and observe minute silence. One man, Nagendra Adhikari, say some of im cousins and relatives dey missing, as well as one of im university friends. Another local, C K Bhusal, say e dey there to support those wey don lose everything, to “really be here with our tears, sorrow and grief”.
Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong don say consular officials don make contact with 26-year-old Australian wey dey missing for Nepal. Cara Severino don reach Gosainkunda with other hikers, and plan na to hike back to Kathmandu. Wong say she speak with am directly and e dey safe. But still, 41 Australians dey unaccounted for.
Residents for Trishuli village don dey return to try and retrieve their belongings. Saraswait Ghale, 43, describe how “the earth shook like an earthquake” as muddy water gush past. She say she manage to reach higher ground, but the incident don leave am shaken. She talk say e feel like “no world” now: “What is left? It’s like I am dead.” Another teenager, Rishika Kalwar, 17, say her family home and business don destroy, and she no go fit forget the struggles.
Aid worker Lok Chaudhary, local partner with charity Tearfund, describe the destruction as “absolutely devastating”. E say “the situation is growing worse by the hour”. ActionAid Nepal executive director Sujeeta Mathema say the flood be more like “tsunami” wey no be wetin dem imagine for their wildest dreams. She add say roads and bridges don “completely swept away”, and authorities no know how many people dey “under the mud” or stuck for tunnels and buildings. E say communication with rescue teams don hard because electricity don cut, but dem dey hopeful say more rescues go happen.
