Hundreds missing in flash flood on Nepal-Tibet border as villages destroyed

Floods on the Nepal-Tibet border have left hundreds missing, with devastating impacts on villages and infrastructure, authorities warn of further casualties. At least nine people have been killed, and 384 travelers, including 291 foreigners, remain unaccounted for. Roads, bridges, and power projects were destroyed, hindering rescue efforts.

In Nepal, the Bhote Koshi river's high water levels prevented helicopters from landing in Syapru Besi and Timure, a mountainous district in Rasuwa, home to about 50,000 people. Rescue teams urge residents near the river to evacuate to higher ground. District administrator Narendra Pariyar expressed concern over potential heavy casualties and property loss.

A health worker in Rasuwa reported entire villages being engulfed by the flood waters, with five relatives missing, including five of his own. The cause of the flooding remains unclear, though a similar incident last year was linked to the draining of a glacier lake. China's Xinhua news agency reported the recent mudslide on the Nepali side of the border, impacting Gyirong port in Tibet, severing communications and power links in the Shigatse region.

President Xi Jinping called for extensive search efforts and improved monitoring to prevent further disasters. Nepal's energy ministry noted that 430MW of electricity, nearly 12% of the country's hydropower capacity, was affected, primarily from hydroelectric projects. Prime Minister Balendra Shah directs the evacuation of residents in lower areas and urges extra caution from those living along the river.

The Bhote Koshi river originates in Tibet, flows through Nepal, and eventually merges with India's Gandak river. Last year's Bhote Koshi flood claimed nine lives and left 24 people missing when it destroyed a friendship bridge connecting Nepal and China, disrupting trade and transport for months.