Deadly Flash Flood Hits Nepal-Tibet Border, Leaving Dozens Dead and Hundreds Missing
A devastating flash flood struck the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday morning, triggered by a massive ice and rock avalanche in the Himalayas that caused a huge surge in the Bhote Koshi river system. At least nine people have died, and according to Nepal's Tourism Council, 384 individuals are currently missing or out of contact, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepalis. This preliminary list is being verified with travel companies, guides, and local authorities.
The floodwaters overflowed around 9:00 a.m. Nepal time, sweeping away villages, roads, and infrastructure. Missing foreigners include tourists from India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, South Africa, Australia, and the Netherlands. South Korea reported eight of its citizens missing, who were working on a hydroelectric project in the area, with ten more workers trapped and awaiting rescue.
The hardest-hit area is Rasuwa district in northern Nepal near the Gyirong border crossing. On the Tibetan side, a landslide also disrupted roads, communications, and power supply. Chinese news agency Xinhua reported concerns about numerous casualties and missing persons but has not released exact figures.
Experts in Kathmandu believe the avalanche blocked a wide tributary of the Bhote Koshi river, causing a sudden release of a large water surge downstream. Nepalese authorities have requested assistance from India and China, but strong water currents hinder helicopter rescue operations. The flood also severely damaged Nepal’s hydroelectric capacity, shutting down about 430 megawatts, over 12% of the country's total.
Residents along the rivers have been warned to move to higher ground due to the risk of further flooding. This disaster follows a similar deadly flood in August last year in the same river basin, which killed nine and left 24 missing, caused by the draining of a glacial lake in Tibet. Meanwhile, a separate group of Israeli travelers was stranded in Nepal amid heavy snowstorms.
