Catastrophic Nepal floods and landslides in Nuwakot leave hundreds still missing
Communities along Nepal’s Trishuli River face catastrophic damage, hundreds missing and destroyed bridges as helicopters race to evacuate the injured.
A devastating flash flood in Nepal has resulted in over 270 deaths and more than 1,300 people missing, according to the latest reports. The disaster was triggered by a glacial collapse, sending a massive wall of mud and rock down the Lhende Khola river, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi. This event struck the border region between Nepal and Tibet, affecting both countries.
As of Thursday, rescue teams were still searching for survivors, and authorities warned that another disaster could occur as a lake formed by the floodwaters threatened to burst. More than 910 people were confirmed missing in Nepal, with 517 of them being foreign nationals. In Tibet, Chinese media reported 558 people missing, including 260 foreigners. Three deaths were confirmed in Tibet, with two villagers rescued.
Nepal's police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle stated that more bodies are expected to be recovered as the search continues. Among the missing in Nepal were a large number of foreign tourists, with India accounting for the largest proportion. US officials reported 90 US citizens unaccounted for, with three having been rescued. The tourism board in Nepal also noted that many missing were pilgrims traveling to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a site sacred to Hindus.
The disaster has highlighted the need for early-warning systems in the warming Himalayas, as experts warn that glacial instability is accelerating due to climate change. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development noted that the Lhende Khola has flooded twice in 14 months, with this flood likely caused by an ice-rock avalanche from a glacier on the Nepal side.
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