More than 1,300 people, including over 700 foreign nationals, are missing following a catastrophic flood in the Himalayan region affecting Nepal and China's Tibet. The disaster, triggered by a massive landslide of mud and rock into a river, has left authorities scrambling to locate the missing and assess the damage.
In Nepal, officials confirmed that 823 people are unaccounted for, with more than 500 of them being foreign tourists. Among these, 177 are from India, 63 from the United States, 34 from Australia, 33 from the United Kingdom, and 25 from Canada. Meanwhile, in Tibet's Gyirong county, 558 individuals, including 260 foreigners, are reported missing, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
The confirmed death toll stands at 177, but police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle warned that this number is expected to rise as search efforts continue. Helicopters have been deployed to deliver emergency supplies and search for survivors in the rugged terrain popular with trekkers and pilgrims.
Video footage has captured the devastation, showing torrents of water and debris sweeping away people at a border crossing in Gyirong. In Nepal, the floodwaters have destroyed homes, roads, and power infrastructure, complicating rescue operations.
More than 5,000 army and police personnel are involved in the rescue efforts, which have so far saved 125 people, including 20 foreigners. Helicopters are dropping tents, food, and medicine into the hardest-hit districts, with supplies provided by neighboring India.
Cause and Consequences
Initial reports suggested an earthquake might have caused the glacier's collapse, but the US Geological Survey clarified that the seismic activity was due to the sudden collapse of glacial rock and ice, leading to a debris flow.
Chinese authorities have issued warnings about a dammed lake in Gyirong, which poses further risks and could hinder rescue efforts. Many of those caught in the disaster were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, revered sites in Tibet.
Among the pilgrims were 77 Hindus at the Nepal-China border immigration office when the flood struck. Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru, who was visiting Mount Kailash, confirmed their presence in a video message.
The international community has responded with aid. The US State Department is sending a disaster response adviser. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed that UN teams are delivering emergency supplies to affected areas.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted the difficulty in gathering information due to the remote location and limited infrastructure. Sagar Pandey, a Himalayan tourism operator, reported that 15 Indian-Australian pilgrims traveling with his company are missing.
“There are no human-made structures, no human settlements left. Everything is just flat, ” Pandey said after an aerial survey of the disaster zone. “Anyone in the hotels, restaurants, or vehicles – I believe everyone is gone.”
Satellite imagery analysis by Planet Labs indicated that a landslide of ice and rock triggered the debris-laden surge down the Lhende River, about 20 km northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing between Nepal and China.
In the affected valleys, thick mud has engulfed homes, trees, and vehicles. Aerial footage shows collapsed houses, submerged cars, and a metallic bridge washed away by the torrents. “There is devastation everywhere we look, ” said Tula Bahadur BK, a healthcare worker in Rasuwa. “The settlements next to the river have been completely swept away. Five of my own relatives are missing.”
Journalist Ramyata Limbu, reporting from Kathmandu, indicated that the economic impact on Nepal could be substantial, affecting tourism, trade, and hydropower projects. The area is home to a national park and a dry port between Nepal and China, both significant to the local economy.
