Nepal-Tibet disaster: What we know so far about the floods and victims

KATHMANDU, Aug 27 - Catastrophic flooding and landslides on the Nepal-Tibet border have resulted in at least 160 deaths and left hundreds more missing. The precise sequence of events is still uncertain, but early reports indicate torrents of water and debris cascading downstream on both sides of the border. Surveillance footage from China reveals a wall of mud and water engulfing a building, with people fleeing in terror.

In Nepal, a surge of water inundated villages and towns along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. Initially, Nepal described the disaster as a flood, while China referred to it as a mudslide.

The death toll stands at 165, with 162 in Nepal and three in Tibet. Chinese authorities have reported 558 people missing, including 260 foreigners. On the Nepalese side, 468 tourists, 393 of whom are foreigners, remain unaccounted for. Among the missing are citizens from India, Ukraine, Malaysia, the UK, South Africa, and other nations.

Australia has reported 34 of its citizens missing, while 93 Nepalese citizens are also listed as missing. Aid promises have poured in following the disaster. The United States has pledged $500,000 in emergency assistance, and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has released $1.4 million. The World Health Organization has dispatched emergency medical supplies.

Neighboring India has sent 10 tonnes of humanitarian aid. The exact cause of the disaster remains under investigation, but it is believed to be linked to a collapsing glacier. Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal suggested an earthquake triggered a landslide, which in turn blocked a river and led to the flooding. China reported a landslide, claiming a border hub between Tibet and Nepal was hit by a surge of debris.

Initially, the US Geological Survey reported a quake in Tibet as the cause, but later updated their assessment to indicate a glacial collapse and debris flow, which then caused catastrophic downstream impacts.