Catastrophic floods kill over 353 in Nepal and Tibet, with more than 1,300 missing

DEVIGHAT, Nepal — Rescue efforts were underway on Thursday to locate hundreds of individuals who went missing following a catastrophic flood that swept through communities near the Nepal-China border the previous day. The torrential wave of water and mud, several stories high, was triggered by a glacier collapse. Eyewitness videos captured residents fleeing as the floodwaters engulfed them, demolishing buildings and bridges in their path.

The disaster claimed at least 353 lives, with over 1,300 people still unaccounted for, including a significant number of foreigners and pilgrims. The affected region, encompassing steep slopes and lush valleys nestled below the Himalayas, is particularly susceptible to flooding and landslides. Human-induced climate change has led to an increase in melting glaciers, exacerbating the risk of such disasters.

Images from the scene revealed second-floor dwellings in Nepal's severely impacted Nuwakot district coated in mud, debris dangling from tree branches and power lines, vehicles buried under the debris, and some survivors appearing stunned and disoriented.