Flash Floods in Nepal-Tibet Border Kill 160, Leave Over 700 Missing Including One Israeli

A devastating flash flood struck the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday morning, burying villages and towns under mud and debris and causing massive casualties. The official death toll has risen to 160, with 157 fatalities reported in Nepal and 3 in Tibet, China. Authorities report over 700 people missing, including 403 in Nepal, among them 341 foreign nationals, and 265 in China. The missing foreigners include 133 Indians, 47 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons, 24 Canadians, and one Israeli man in his 60s who entered Nepal from Tibet with a tour group and has since lost contact.

The disaster occurred around 9:00 a.m. local time when a massive landslide of mud, rocks, and ice collapsed into the Langtang River tributary, causing the river to overflow and unleash destructive floods on both sides of the border. Dramatic footage from Tibet’s Gyirong border crossing shows a torrent of water sweeping away vehicles, buses, and buildings. At least 19 bridges collapsed, and entire communities were devastated.

Survivors recount harrowing experiences of being swept away or losing family members. One survivor, Kashab Prasad Baral, described how his wife was carried off by the mudflow despite his efforts to save her. Another survivor, Sugam Malah, saved his mother but lost contact with his sister, presumed missing. The floods struck during school hours, with children caught in the deluge; an 11-year-old girl named Rihanna Lamichhane survived but sustained injuries.

Experts suggest the flood was triggered by the collapse of a glacier about 4,000 meters above the valley floor, which swept down rocks and debris. Initial reports of a 4.4 magnitude earthquake preceding the event were later clarified as seismic energy caused by the landslide itself. Climate change is believed to be accelerating glacier melt in the Himalayas, increasing the risk of such disasters. Nepal’s glaciers have lost nearly a third of their ice volume in the past 30 years, with melting rates rising sharply in recent decades.

Rescue operations continue amid urgent calls for aid, as many survivors remain trapped without shelter, food, or medical care. The Nepalese government and international agencies are coordinating efforts to locate missing persons and provide relief to affected communities.