Nepal is grappling with a severe flood crisis, potentially caused by a high-altitude ice-rock avalanche. Hundreds have perished, with thousands more affected, requiring extensive rescue and humanitarian aid. The disaster has prompted research into its cause and immediate measures to mitigate ongoing flood risks from natural barrier lakes.

Nepal is grappling with a severe flood crisis, potentially caused by a high-altitude ice-rock avalanche. Hundreds have perished, with thousands more affected, requiring extensive rescue and humanitarian aid. The disaster has prompted research into its cause and immediate measures to mitigate ongoing flood risks from natural barrier lakes.

Nepal is grappling with a severe flood crisis, potentially caused by a high-altitude ice-rock avalanche. Hundreds have perished, with thousands more affected, requiring extensive rescue and humanitarian aid. The disaster has prompted research into its cause and immediate measures to mitigate ongoing flood risks from natural barrier lakes.

Researchers from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based near Kathmandu, are investigating whether an ice-rock avalanche originating from a high-altitude location may have triggered the deadly floods that has claimed the lives of hundreds in Nepal.

As of Friday afternoon, 1,545 injured and stranded people have been rescued from various affected regions. Among them, 84 are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Kathmandu, where families are desperately searching for their loved ones. Search and rescue operations continued for the third day of the tragic incident with the mobilisation of 7,451 security personnel, including 2,391 Nepal Army personnel, the police statement said.

Here are five latest updates reaching us from Kathmandu:



1. More than 90,000 people are estimated to be directly affected by the Himalayan landslide and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, the Red Cross reportedly said."We believe that at least 93,000 people have been affected and are in great need," David Fisher, head of delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Nepal, told a Geneva press briefing."We're of course very concerned about the secondary flood," he added.

2. 117 tourists have been rescued so far, including 85 Indians, 16 Chinese, 9 Koreans, two italians and two American citiznes. According to information with the World Health Organization, six health facilities had been damaged in the landslide and that eight healthcare workers were missing.

3. According to disaster management personnel on ground zero, flood risks will remain until two lakes have fully drained. There is a plans to install cameras, sensors downstream including near border town of Timure, reports said. The squads are assessing deployment options by helicopter, they added.

4. The rescue and relied operations were paused after a barrier lake created by the glacial landslide broke its banks, causing water to overflow -- sparking fears of new flash floods. Howeve, both Chinese and Nepalese officials have reportedly clarified that the immediate risk from the barrier lake was not great as the water began to drain. China had been racing to reduce the risk of more flooding at the border crossing linking its Tibet region to Nepal.

5. Quoting the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, The Kathmandu Post reported that death toll had reached 538 by Friday afternoon. Bodies of victims have so far been recovered from Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan and Nawalparasi. The hospital morgues across districts are likely to reach maximum capacity, forcing authorities to convert unused building like the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute in Bharatpur into temporary morgues, the report added.