Death Toll Rises to 162 in Nepal Flash Floods as Hundreds Remain Missing

The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 162, according to Nepalese media reports early Thursday. Hundreds of locals and tourists remain missing, including 28 police officers, while 41 people are receiving hospital treatment. The Nepalese Prime Minister's Secretariat confirmed that 114 individuals have been rescued and brought to safety by the Nepalese army and independent rescue helicopter operators.

The disaster struck the border region between Nepal and Tibet following a massive ice and rock avalanche in the Himalayas, which triggered a powerful flood wave that swept away villages and infrastructure in northern Nepal. Among the missing is one Israeli tourist who has lost contact. Chinese state media reported that 558 people are missing in Tibet due to the floods, including over 250 foreign nationals.

Experts from Kathmandu's international center explained that the avalanche blocked a wide river, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River, on the Nepalese side, which then released a large surge of water downstream. Nepalese authorities have requested assistance from India and China, but strong water currents have hindered helicopter landings in some areas.

The hardest-hit area is the mountainous Rasuwa district near the Girong border crossing. On the Tibetan side, the avalanche damaged the border crossing, severed roads, communication, and power supply. Chinese news agency Xinhua expressed concerns about numerous casualties and missing persons, though no exact figures have been released from the Chinese side yet.

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced that UN teams and partners are mobilizing supplies and personnel to assist the affected communities in Nepal. The disaster has also trapped a group of Israeli travelers in a snowstorm, adding to the ongoing crisis.