Deadly flash flood and mudslide cause casualties in Nepal and China

On Wednesday, Nepal faced a deadly flash flood and subsequent mudslide, claiming eight lives and causing significant damage across the Himalayan nation, officials reported. The disaster struck villages near Tibet, resulting in major casualties and disruptions to roads, bridges, and power projects, according to Xinhua, the official news agency of China.

In the neighboring county of Gyirong, China, numerous lives were reported missing following a mudslide that impacted a land crossing between China and Nepal, the news agency added, without specifying the details.

In Nepal, helicopter rescue operations were rendered impossible in the affected areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in Rasuwa district due to the river's excessive water levels, which posed a high risk of casualties and property loss. District administrator Narendra Pariyar cautioned residents living along the Bhote Koshi river to evacuate to higher ground, citing the sudden and overwhelming nature of the flood. Witnesses described hearing a sound akin to a volcanic eruption before people began fleeing in panic.

The cause of the catastrophic event remains unclear, though a similar flood on the same river last year was attributed to the drainage of a glacial lake. Meanwhile, in China, the mudslide at Gyirong port severed crucial communication and transport links, stranding roads and power supplies in the Shigatse region near the Nepal border. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for comprehensive search efforts and enhanced monitoring and early warning systems to mitigate future disasters, emphasizing the need for all-out action.