Video: Terrified family stuck on balcony surrounded by Nepal flash flood

A harrowing video captured the desperate situation of a family stranded on a balcony during a devastating flash flood near the Nepal-Tibet border. The two-minute footage, posted on X, illustrated the overwhelming force of the flood, which consisted of mud, water, and debris. Despite the house's initial resilience, it was ultimately engulfed by the relentless torrent, leaving the occupants trapped on the balcony.

Three individuals - a man, a woman, and a child, possibly a young girl - were visible on the balcony, desperately watching as the mud and debris surrounded them. The raging flood tore through the area, dragging boulders, debris, and asbestos sheets, threatening to topple the still-standing house. Helplessly, the family remained on the balcony, cut off from any possible rescue or salvation.

The flood, which began around 8:30 am, was a result of an ice and rock avalanche in the mountains. The surge on the Bhotekoshi River likely accelerated the disaster, leading to the formation of a barrier lake as water continued to collect and rise. Concerns of a secondary flash flood prompted red flags to be raised, but Chinese agencies reported that the overflow had ceased a few hours later.

As rescue efforts were halted, they resumed, with the Nepal Army successfully rescuing two people from a flood-hit hydropower tunnel in Rasuwa, one of the worst-affected districts. To date, the death toll stands at nearly 469, with hundreds still missing, including an estimated 290 Indians.