Hundreds missing after Nepal flash flood hits Tibet border
A flash flood along the Nepal-Tibet border has left hundreds missing, including 291 foreign tourists, with at least 17 people confirmed dead. Nepal's tourism board says 384 travellers are unaccounted for after muddy torrents swept villages, roads and bridges in the Himalayan border region.
Key Takeaways
- At least 17 people have been killed and 384 travellers reported missing after a flash flood hit Nepal near the Tibet border.
- Nepal's tourism board says 291 of the missing are foreign nationals, including travellers from India, the UK, Malaysia and other countries.
- Officials say a morning earthquake may have triggered an avalanche or landslide that blocked a river and unleashed the surge.
- Rescue helicopters cannot land in hard-hit areas of Rasuwa until floodwaters recede; China also fears "major casualties" in Gyirong.
The disaster struck early Wednesday in northern Nepal, with Rasuwa and Nuwakot among the worst-hit districts. Muddy water tore through riverside settlements, washing away homes, roads, bridges and power infrastructure along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems.
According to BBC reporting, Nepal's Tourism Board identified 384 travellers as missing in an initial assessment: 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals. Nationalities listed include more than 100 people from India, 12 from the UK, plus travellers from Malaysia, South Africa, the United States, Australia and the Netherlands, with many identities still being confirmed.
What happened in Nepal and how many people are missing?
Police in Nepal's Bagmati province say at least 17 people were killed, and authorities warn the toll is likely to rise. Witnesses described villages engulfed and settlements beside the river completely swept away. Verified video showed a bridge ripped from its supports and multi-storey buildings collapsing in the Trishuli Bazaar area of Nuwakot, about 25km north-west of Kathmandu.
Beyond travellers, Nepal's foreign minister told parliament that dozens of security personnel are missing, including police, armed police and military members, along with customs and immigration officials. Sixty workers at the under-construction Langtang Khola Hydroelectric Project in Rasuwa were also reported missing after the flood damaged the site.
On the Chinese side, a mudslide hit the Gyirong land crossing, cutting roads, communications and power. Chinese state media warned of "major casualties," and President Xi Jinping ordered all-out search efforts for the missing.
What caused the flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border?
Nepal's foreign minister, Shishir Khanal, said preliminary information points to an earthquake at about 8:37 a.m. local time that triggered an avalanche or large landslide, blocking a river and sending a torrent downstream. The US Geological Survey recorded a 4.4-magnitude quake in the region at the same time. Teams were still verifying the sequence.
A disaster specialist at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Kathmandu separately told the Associated Press the surge on a Bhote Koshi tributary was likely triggered by an ice-rock avalanche from a glacier that blocked the river, then released a sudden flood. Last year, flooding on the same river killed nine people after a glacial lake drained.
Where is the rescue effort focused right now?
Nepal's army said rescue helicopters cannot land in Syapru Besi and Timure until waters fall. Prime Minister Balendra Shah said police and military units have joined rescue work and urged people living in lower areas to move to safer ground. The Red Cross said it was deploying an emergency team with relief supplies to Rasuwa.
Nepal's energy ministry said about 430MW of electricity supply was affected—more than 12% of national hydropower capacity—mostly from hydroelectric projects. China mobilised emergency responders, drones and relief supplies, including tents and bedding, for Tibet.
As search teams press on amid high water and damaged roads, the central unanswered question remains the fate of the hundreds still missing across this remote border zone.