Pope Leo XIV has expressed deep sorrow following catastrophic flash floods in Nepal, offering his condolences to bereaved families and assuring affected communities of his spiritual closeness. In a official telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pope commended the souls of the deceased to God, prayed for the protection of the Nepali people, and extended support to emergency personnel working in perilous conditions.
The disaster has claimed over 350 lives in Nepal, with more than 900 people remaining unaccounted for after a massive surge of water, mud, and debris swept through settlements near the northern border with China. Officials expect the death toll to rise further as rescue teams clear thick debris. In neighboring Tibet, hundreds more are reported missing, bringing the total number of unaccounted individuals across the region to nearly 1,500—including numerous foreign pilgrims traveling to sacred sites around Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.
Scientists attribute the tragedy to a massive Himalayan glacial collapse, which unleashed a sudden, powerful surge into the local river system. The impact of the collapse was so severe that initial seismic readings briefly mistook the force for an earthquake. The resulting torrent destroyed vital infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and power installations, while completely inundating several towns and severing key trade routes at a major border crossing.
Emergency operations are currently underway, involving thousands of military personnel, police officers, and rescue workers. Helicopters are navigating difficult mountainous terrain, high landslide risks, and severed transport links to drop food and medical supplies to isolated communities. As international aid from neighboring countries, the United Nations, and relief agencies arrives, the calamity has highlighted global concerns regarding rising temperatures and glacial instability across the Himalayas.