Death toll mounts, more than 1,000 missing in Nepal and China after Himalayan flood

A catastrophic flash flood originating from a wall of ice, mud and rock collapsing into a mountain river has left over 1,000 people missing in Nepal and China. The disaster triggered an emergency response, with Nepal using helicopters to search for survivors and drop supplies to those cut off. Authorities in Nepal anticipate the death toll to exceed 270, while dozens of bodies have already been recovered from the plains.

The focus remains on finding survivors among the 650 foreigners and 100 Indian visitors still unaccounted for. In Trishuli, a region particularly hard hit, 100 missing people have been located, including 25 Chinese workers. Many victims were pilgrims heading to Kailash Mansarovar, a revered high-altitude site in Tibet. China's Premier Li Qiang visited the disaster-stricken site, signaling the disaster's high national priority.

Chinese authorities have identified risks from a still-dammed lake upstream, which could further complicate rescue efforts.