Nepal floods: Aerial views reveal devastation after deadly disaster

Aerial images have exposed the full extent of the devastation caused by a deadly flood and landslide on Nepal's Trishuli River near the border with Tibet. At least 160 people were confirmed dead, with hundreds more still missing, including foreign tourists. The flood was triggered by a glacial collapse, according to the US Geological Survey, which replaced an initial report suggesting an earthquake was the cause.

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake was recorded near the Nepal-China border at 8:37 am local time on August 26. The catastrophic event swept through communities on both sides of the border, destroying buildings, roads and vital infrastructure. Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal had previously speculated an earthquake triggered a landslide which blocked a river, unleashing the devastating torrent.

However, the USGS confirmed glacial collapse as the likely cause. Rescue teams are still searching for survivors and those missing, with 403 people, including 341 foreigners, reported missing. The disaster is one of the deadliest in the Himalayas in recent years, with glacial lakes posing an ongoing threat to Nepal's major river systems.