Nepal-Tibet Flood: Nearly 1,500 People Missing

Nearly 1,500 Missing After Himalayan Floods

A devastating flash flood disaster across Nepal and China’s Tibet has left nearly 1,500 people missing, including almost 800 foreigners, after a massive wall of mud, rocks and water swept through Himalayan towns and valleys.

Authorities said the disaster struck on Wednesday after a collapse of glacial rock and ice sent a powerful debris flow into rivers near the Nepal-China border. The floods destroyed homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Death Toll Expected to Rise

Nepalese police said the death toll had already passed 165 and warned that the number could rise as rescue teams continue searching through huge amounts of mud and debris.

In Nepal alone, authorities reported 826 people missing, including almost 500 foreign nationals. China’s state broadcaster reported another 558 people missing in Tibet’s Gyirong county, including 260 foreign nationals.

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Canadians Among Missing Foreign Tourists

The disaster has also affected international tourists and pilgrims. Officials reported that people from more than two dozen countries were missing in Nepal.

Among those reported missing were 177 people from India, 63 from the United States, 34 from Australia, 33 from Britain and 25 from Canada.

Canada is closely monitoring the situation. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the floods as “absolutely devastating” and said Canada was following developments.

Rescue Teams Launch Major Operation

More than 5,000 Nepalese army and police personnel have joined the rescue operation. Helicopters are being used to search for survivors and deliver emergency supplies to communities cut off by the disaster.

Nepal’s army said rescuers recovered 125 people on Thursday, including 20 foreigners. Helicopters have also been delivering tents, food and other essential supplies to some of the hardest-hit areas.

Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrims Among Those Missing

Many of those caught in the disaster were travelling through the region as pilgrims heading toward Kailash Mansarovar, a sacred high-altitude destination in Tibet revered by Hindus and Buddhists.

Officials said people from India and several other countries were among those missing. The mountainous route is also used by trekkers and tourists travelling between Nepal and Tibet.

Landslide Triggered Catastrophic Flood

Early reports suggested that an earthquake may have triggered the collapse of a glacier. However, the US Geological Survey said the seismic signal was generated by the collapse of glacial rock and ice, followed by a debris flow.

Satellite imagery indicated that an ice and rock landslide unleashed a powerful flood in the Lhende River, approximately 20 kilometres northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.

Villages Swept Away by Mud and Water

Videos and photographs from the disaster zone showed an extraordinary scale of destruction. Homes, vehicles, roads and bridges were buried or swept away as enormous amounts of mud and water moved through the valleys.

Survivors described watching buildings disappear beneath the floodwaters. Thick layers of mud covered settlements, while rescue helicopters continued flying over the affected areas.

International Help Reaches Nepal

India has provided emergency supplies, while the United States announced that it was sending a disaster response adviser and providing $500,000 in assistance.

The United Nations is also mobilizing personnel and supplies to support affected communities. China has launched search-and-rescue operations in Tibet and is monitoring the risk posed by a still-dammed lake upstream of the affected border area.

A Major Humanitarian Emergency

The disaster has created a major humanitarian emergency across a difficult Himalayan region where access remains challenging. Families are gathering at rescue bases searching for information about relatives who remain missing.

With rescue operations continuing, authorities expect the casualty and missing-person figures to change as teams reach isolated communities and search through the debris.