Hundreds missing after avalanche triggers deadly flash floods in Nepal

Hundreds of people are missing and at least eight people have been killed after an avalanche of ice and rock triggered massive flash floods in Nepal, according to reports from The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. The floods affected two central Nepalese districts along the Tibet border, causing widespread destruction in settlements along the river and damaging at least 12 hydropower projects.

The floods occurred after a surge of water through the Bhote Koshi River, which originated on the Tibet side. According to Live Mint, nearly 400 people are reported missing, including 105 Indians and 37 NRIs, who were mostly travelling to Tibet for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his Nepalese counterpart, PM Balendra Shah, and offered condolences over the deaths, assuring Nepal that India was ready to provide humanitarian assistance. Australian Prime Minister's comments were not reported but an Australian was among 300 foreign nationals reported missing according to ABC News AU, which put the death toll at nine.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Live Mint, Hindustan Times, ABC News AU — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.