Nepal (MNN) — There was little time to escape. On Wednesday morning, August 26, a chunk of glacier broke off a Himalayan mountainside in Tibet. The mass of ice and rock created a dam in the Lhende river below, which soon burst. This sent deadly flash floods hurtling deeper into Tibet as well as over the border into Nepal’s Rasuwa district and beyond downriver. 

The death toll surpassed 390 on Thursday, with more than 1,400 people missing. 

“More than seven hydroelectric power stations are damaged. No electricity right now,” Chitry from A3 says. Eleven churches affiliated with A3’s network were affected by the flash flood. One was in the epicenter of the disaster zone, and the pastor appears to be the only survivor.

However, communication remains difficult if not impossible. Chitry plans to travel to the disaster area to assess the needs. He might need permission from local security personnel.

“High level[s] of government are meeting and discussing how they can help the disaster area,” he says. “They continue working now, and also they are giving priority to the women and the children, especially.”

This is where the Body of Christ comes in. Chitry explains, “We need to go to the place where people are suffering, where people need the help, putting ourselves in action and showing them the love of God.” 

Years ago, A3’s network helped earthquake survivors in Nepal. Several people became Christians after watching them serve. Please pray for comfort for those who lost family members, practical aid for those who lost their homes, and spiritual awakening for all flood survivors.

“God is not punishing people, but God is actually teaching us to turn toward Him and come back to Him,” says Chitry. “Whatever they have lost, [is] lost. But God [has] spared their life to come to Him and know Him, and then experience His love in this situation.”

You can also send financial help through A3’s global disaster relief fund.

 

Header photo: The Himalayas from Kathmandu, Nepal (Photo courtesy of Bigyan Khanal via Unsplash.)