Members of the LGBTQ+ community in Nepal came together for a candlelight vigil in Kathmandu, to honour the victims of the flash floods that devastated the country on the morning of August 26.
An unprecedented deluge of ice, rock and mud struck dozens of settlements on the border between Nepal and Tibet, with the resulting debris travelling at a speed of around 180 km/h.
According to Nepal’s disaster authority, the death toll from the floods has now reached 903, with over 4,200 people missing in the aftermath. Rescue teams are still working on trying to reach hundreds of people who are believed to be stuck in blocked hydropower project tunnels.
The Red Cross has estimated that over 90,000 people will be impacted by the disaster. On the Chinese side, 16 people were killed in the floods and 546 are missing, according to authorities. Moreover, Beijing stated that 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries were unaccounted for in Tibet, near the border with Nepal.
The floods are believed to have been caused by a glacier collapse and have been linked to the effects of climate change. The Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the floods were “caused by glacier instability under the long-term effects of global warming”, stating that it was a “new and prominent feature of cryosphere disasters” on the Tibetan plateau.
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Speaking to Reuters, two Nepali officials said China had not shared enough information on glacier risks and water levels following a meeting to strengthen cooperation earlier this year.
Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah said the floods were an “unprecedented and devastating natural disaster”. He added, “Despite the adverse weather, difficult terrain and continuing risks, we are moving forward with determination to save the lives of our citizens.”
Members of the LGBTQ+ community in the country gathered in Kathmandu on Saturday, August 29, for a candlelight vigil organised by the Blue Diamond Society. The event was held in honour of the victims of the floods and to express solidarity with families affected by the disaster.
“We organised this small gathering to light candles and pray for the eternal peace of all who lost their lives in this disaster, and to pray that those who are still missing are found as quickly as possible,” an individual told PTI Videos.
The 24th Nepal Pride Parade and GaiJatra Celebration had been scheduled for August 29, but was cancelled in light of the floods. In a statement posted on Instagram, the Blue Diamond Society, which organises the Pride celebrations, said that the candlelight vigil was meant to provide “a quiet space to remember those who have lost their lives and to express our collective grief and solidarity.”
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