Catastrophic floods kill over 270 in Nepal and Tibet, with more than 1,300 missing

Devighat, Nepal (AP) — Rescue teams were searching for hundreds of missing individuals along the Nepal-Tibet border after a glacier collapse unleashed a deadly surge of water and mud. Over 1,300 people were reported missing, including foreigners and pilgrims, and at least 273 were confirmed dead. The disaster devastated communities, washing away buildings, bridges and leaving hundreds displaced.

Heavy rains and melting glaciers, exacerbated by human-caused climate change, have made the region with the world's highest peaks and remaining glaciers particularly vulnerable to flooding and landslides. Videos captured people scrambling before the floodwaters engulfed them. Nearly 40 kilometers (25 miles) of roads were damaged, hindering rescue efforts.

Nepalese helicopters were deployed for rescue operations due to damaged roads. The Nepalese army rescued over 100 people through helicopters and evacuated trapped individuals from the Trishuli hydropower project. In Tibet, a mudslide left an average depth of more than 5 feet in the area surrounding the Gyirong Port border crossing.

Authorities warned that a barrier lake near the confluence of the Tsogyal and the Purupqiangzangbu rivers may burst. The U.N.'s humanitarian chief ordered $2 million from the U.N.'s Central Emergency Response Fund to help with medical care, shelter, and water. Over 60 foreigners, including 22 U.S. nationals, were missing in Nepal, with the rest from 30 other countries.