Rescue crews scramble after Nepal-Tibet floods kills at least 160

A flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border has claimed at least 160 lives and left hundreds missing, according to officials. The disaster, which also caused landslides, has devastated entire villages and market areas. Chinese state media reported three deaths and 265 missing at a Tibet border hub, while Nepal's tourism ministry said 403 tourists were unaccounted for, including 142 Indians.

Rescue teams, including the Nepali Army and Chinese emergency workers, have been working around the clock to find survivors. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has dispatched emergency supplies, including blankets and body bags, to the affected areas. Experts warn that a blockage in a river could cause additional flooding.

The cause of the flooding is believed to be a snow-rock landslide triggered by an earthquake, which blocked a river and sent water cascading downstream. Nepal's foreign minister suggested this may have been the cause, citing satellite data. The Nepali Army has carried out rescue flights, and locals have been advised to relocate to safer areas.

Scientists warn that monsoon rains from June to September regularly trigger deadly floods and landslides in South Asia, and climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such events. China's leader Xi Jinping has stressed the urgent need to search for and rescue the missing people.