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In just one day, the death toll rose from 165 to 469... Barcelona bows its head in the face of Nepal's great disaster with a 'one-minute silence at Camp Nou'

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Lee Wonhee

*This content was translated by AI.

A Nepali flood victim sheds tears (on the right). /AFPBBNews=NEWS1
A Nepali flood victim sheds tears (on the right). /AFPBBNews=NEWS1
The Barcelona squad observes a one-minute silence before the home match. /Photo=Barcelona SNS
The Barcelona squad observes a one-minute silence before the home match. /Photo=Barcelona SNS

The death toll surged from 165 to 469 in just one day. The damage from the massive floods triggered by a Himalayan glacier collapse in Nepal and Tibet is growing out of control. As memorials for the victims continue around the world, the Spanish powerhouse club Barcelona also bowed its head.

On the 28th (Korean time), ahead of their 2026–2027 La Liga home match against Athletic Bilbao at Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, the team observed a one-minute silence.

Barcelona explained via its official website and social media (SNS) that it held a one-minute silence "for FC Barcelona members who passed away last season and for those who lost their lives in recent floods in Nepal and China."

Players from both Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao bowed their heads with somber expressions to show their condolences. Fans who visited the stadium also joined in the silence to pay tribute.

Nepali media outlet Online Khabar highlighted the event. The outlet reported, "Barcelona players observed a one-minute silence to mourn the flood victims in Nepal."

However, despite prayers and condolences from many, the scale of damage continues to grow rapidly.

Reuters explained the situation on the ground today: "Rescue teams are using heavy machinery to dig through mud and debris in towns and villages devastated by flash floods that occurred two days ago in Nepal. Hope of finding survivors is gradually fading."

The confirmed death toll has already risen to 469. Including Tibet, which borders Nepal, nearly 1,000 people remain missing. Of these, at least 540 are believed to be foreigners.

Just a day ago, the known scale of damage was far smaller. Reuters had previously reported 165 deaths in Nepal. However, as rescue and search operations continue and identities are confirmed, the number of identified victims is rising sharply.

Match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona (on the right). /AFPBBNews=NEWS1
Match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona (on the right). /AFPBBNews=NEWS1

This disaster began with a glacier collapse in the Himalayan region. Massive amounts of rock, ice, mud, and various debris formed huge torrents that poured down at once along rivers in mountainous areas.

Reuters stated, "The floods swept through villages and valleys, destroying power plants, roads, and bridges. The affected areas include transportation routes connecting Nepal's capital Kathmandu with Lhasa in Tibet—a path frequently used by trekkers and pilgrims."

This is also why many people, including foreigners, became caught up in the disaster.

Dibga Tamang, miraculously rescued after being swept away by the torrent, expressed grief over losing family and loved ones more than relief at surviving.

Speaking to the media, he said, "All our people have left. Everyone is dead. Now there is no one waiting for me. Everything and everyone has disappeared. It's truly the end," pouring out his despairing feelings.

Nepali authorities are deploying helicopters and heavy machinery to search isolated areas. Some rescue teams have even deployed detection dogs to find missing persons. However, as two days pass since the accident, the possibility of finding survivors continues to diminish.

Large-scale floods in Nepal caused damage across many regions. /AFPBBNews=NEWS1
Large-scale floods in Nepal caused damage across many regions. /AFPBBNews=NEWS1

A bigger problem is that the disaster has not yet ended. Reuters warned, "The massive amounts of water and debris currently flowing downstream are increasing the risk of triggering another disaster."

Debris carried by this flood blocked Nepal's Botekoshi River, forming a natural lake whose water level continues to rise. Nepali disaster management authorities are concerned that if the debris dam collapses, another large-scale flood could occur.

The situation on the Chinese side is also serious. It is expected that approximately 3 million cubic meters of additional water will flow into the already-formed natural dam lake over the next three days—an enormous volume equivalent to filling about 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Chinese authorities have deployed an eight-member engineering team to the site to conduct aerial surveys and create a 3D model of the natural dam lake. However, due to steep cliffs and collapsed terrain, even access to the site is reportedly difficult.

Large-scale floods in Nepal. /AFPBBNews=NEWS1
Large-scale floods in Nepal. /AFPBBNews=NEWS1

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*This content was translated by AI.

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