Hundreds missing in Nepal catastrophic flash floods

Twelve British citizens are among a group of travellers unaccounted for after a flash flood and landslides struck the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday, according to Nepal's tourism board. The provisional list, which is still being verified, includes 105 Indian nationals, three Americans, one Australian, one Dutch citizen, and Nepalis.

Communications and power supply remain disrupted in the impacted area, making contact difficult. The list's provisional status was questioned when Spain's foreign ministry denied placing any Spaniards on it, despite Nepal's authorities including two Spaniards. The Rasuwagadhi border point, where the flood first hit, saw strong currents wreaking havoc, leaving 400 pilgrims and 105 Indian tourists missing.

The death toll remains unclear, with various sources reporting different figures. The flood affected over 484 people in total, according to Nepal's tourism board, while Reuters reported 384. Police, military personnel, customs employees, and hydroelectric plant workers are also uncontactable. The flood initially impacted Rasuwa district and the Timure and Syabrubesi settlements, before advancing southward along the Trishuli river to Nuwakot district.

On China's side, state television reported deaths and missing persons in Gyirong county, with 601 rescue workers deployed. The cause of the flood is disputed, with China blaming a landslide, Nepal attributing it to a possible glacial lake outburst, and China suggesting an avalanche. The affected hydroelectric capacity is 430 megawatts, comprising more than 12% of the national hydroelectric total.

A similar flood in July 2025 killed at least eleven people and destroyed the bridge linking the two countries.