Hundreds missing, including foreign tourists, after flash floods on Nepal-Tibet border
Hundreds were missing after torrential floods in the Himalayan border areas of Nepal and Tibet destroyed roads, bridges and power projects on Wednesday. At least nine people were killed in the flooding, Reuters reported, as authorities braced for more casualties and worse damage. The Nepal Tourism Board said 384 travellers, including 291 foreign nationals, were missing. Houses and roads were…
Heavy rainfall has caused flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, leaving hundreds of people missing, including foreign tourists. At least nine individuals have been confirmed dead, according to Reuters. The Nepal Tourism Board reported that 384 travelers, comprising 291 foreigners, are currently unaccounted for. Houses and roads were severely damaged in Nepal, while Chinese officials in Tibet expressed concern over "major casualties" following a mudslide that struck a land crossing between the two nations.
River levels were too high for rescue helicopters to operate in Nepal's affected regions of Syapru Besi and Timure, located in the mountainous Rasuwa district, which is home to approximately 50,000 people. Photos and videos broadcasted by television channels showcased collapsed homes, floating vehicles, and a washed-away metal bridge, while witnesses claimed that entire villages were submerged.
District administrator Narendra Pariyar warned of potential "heavy casualties or loss of property" and urged residents living along the Bhote Koshi river to relocate to higher ground. Tula Bahadur BK, a health worker in Rasuwa, echoed similar sentiments, stating that settlements adjacent to the river have been entirely wiped out and that five of his relatives are among the missing.
The cause of the flooding remains unknown, though a similar incident on the same river a year ago was attributed to the draining of a glacier lake. China's Xinhua news agency stated that the recent mudslide occurred on the Nepalese side of the border and impacted Gyirong port in Tibet, disrupting road, communication, and power connections in the Shigatse region near the Chinese-Nepalese border.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for "all-out" search efforts and emphasized the need for enhanced monitoring and early warning systems to prevent potential secondary disasters. Nepal's energy ministry announced that 430MW of electricity supplies, accounting for over 12% of the country's total hydropower capacity of 3.2GW, were affected by the flooding.
Emergency responders, including police and military personnel, are assisting in the rescue operation, with Prime Minister Balendra Shah urging people in lower areas to evacuate to safer locations. The Bhote Koshi river, originating in Tibet, flows into Nepal's Trishuli river, which eventually empties into India as the 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 transportation for months. That incident was also linked to the draining of a supraglacial lake in Tibet, as per a regional climate monitor.
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