Nepal flash floods kill eight at China border and cause 'major casualties' in Tibet

On Wednesday, a deluge of water killed eight individuals in Nepal as Chinese authorities reported significant casualties from a mudslide at a trade hub in Tibet along the nations' shared border. Images from Nepal depicted floodwaters surging through a river, engulfing houses in their path, while AFP images captured the upper floor of a residence protruding from muddy ground.

So far, eight bodies have been discovered, and rescue efforts have commenced. Nepal police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle informed AFP that rescue operations are ongoing. Videos shared by Nepali authorities and social media users showed torrents of muddy water cascading through mountain valleys near the China border. Suman Chalise, a 34-year-old teacher from the Nuwakot district, recounted witnessing trucks, houses, and people swept away by the flood.

The police spokesperson stated that authorities are unaware of the full extent of the damage but have advised residents living near riversides to relocate. The Nepal Army deployed helicopters and disaster response personnel to the affected region. The Nepal Electricity Authority reported that approximately 430 megawatts of production capacity, encompassing hydropower and solar facilities, was damaged by the disaster, leading to disruptions in electricity supply.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the flooding was likely caused by a rock-ice avalanche in Nepal, which blocked the Lhende river and triggered the cascading flood event. Mudslide risk remains high, with several highways closed due to the catastrophe. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday that a mudslide disaster on the Nepalese side resulted in major casualties and missing individuals at the Gyirong Port in Tibet.

However, AFP was unable to verify the footage's authenticity immediately. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all-out rescue operations, emphasizing the urgent need to search for missing individuals, provide immediate medical treatment to the injured, and minimize casualties. Traffic authorities in Tibet's Shigatse warned that roads in the area are at risk of mudslides and unsafe for passage.

Scientists from ICIMOD have cautioned that a second flood may be imminent, as a blockage persists upstream on the Nepal-China border river, prompting authorities to warn of the possibility of another catastrophic flood.