Eight-Year-Old Nepal Boy Survives Deadly Mudslide by Climbing Tree, Reunites with Mother
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
In the devastating mudslide triggered by a Himalayan glacial collapse along the Nepal-Tibet border, an eight-year-old boy named Zoyal Ghale survived by escaping to a forest and climbing a tree to evade the deadly floodwaters. His mother, Matti Maya Tamang, had searched desperately through shelters, hospitals, and evacuation centers, believing both her sons had perished. Through the help of a Reuters journalist, she learned her son was alive and receiving treatment in Kathmandu, leading to a tearful reunion. At least 580 people have been confirmed dead with approximately 2,500 still missing in one of the region's deadliest natural disasters in years.
Key Points
- Zoyal Ghale, 8, survived the mudslide by fleeing to a nearby forest and climbing a tree to escape floodwaters, sustaining a broken leg and facial cuts
- The boy was evacuated by helicopter from Rasuwa County to Kathmandu, where he received treatment for his injuries
- His mother Matti Maya Tamang, 28, searched through multiple shelters and hospitals before a Reuters journalist helped her locate her son
- Reuters journalist Sahana Bajracharya had interviewed the unidentified boy at a small hospital in Nuwakot County and left contact information
- The mother also confirmed her 5-year-old son survived the disaster, making both children accounted for
- UNICEF reports at least 17,000 children have been affected by the flooding in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts
- The disaster was caused by a glacial collapse in the Himalayas, sending rocks, ice, and mud cascading across the Nepal-China border region
Why It Matters
The disaster underscores the deadly and unpredictable nature of climate-induced glacial collapses in the Himalayan region, with hundreds still missing and thousands of children left vulnerable. The successful reunion of Zoyal with his mother offers a rare moment of hope amid the tragedy, highlighting the critical role of international media and aid organizations in connecting displaced families with missing loved ones during large-scale disasters .
The disaster underscores the deadly and unpredictable nature of climate-induced glacial collapses in the Himalayan region, with hundreds still missing and thousands of children left vulnerable. The successful reunion of Zoyal with his mother offers a rare moment of hope amid the tragedy, highlighting the critical role of international media and aid organizations in connecting displaced families with missing loved ones during large-scale disasters .