Nepal is confronting a devastating flood disaster after violent torrents swept through communities near its border with China, killing 95 people and leaving 384 travellers reported missing, according to Nepalese authorities and the country’s Tourism Board.
The worst-hit areas include Rasuwa district, where flooding along the Bhotekoshi River affected settlements around Syapru Besi and Timure. Homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure were damaged or swept away as large quantities of mud and water moved through the mountain valleys.
Nepal’s Tourism Board said its preliminary records identified 384 missing travellers, comprising 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals. Officials cautioned that the list was still being checked as authorities attempted to establish the whereabouts of those reported missing.
The disaster has also disrupted rescue operations. Damaged access routes, heavy rain and communication problems have made it difficult for emergency teams to reach some affected locations. Nepalese authorities have deployed rescue personnel and helicopters as efforts continue to locate survivors and people who remain unaccounted for.
Across the border in China’s Tibet region, the disaster also caused deaths and left hundreds missing. The Associated Press reported that three people died in China while 265 remained unaccounted for following flooding and an avalanche-connected surge around Gyirong.
Initial assessments indicate that an avalanche sent a massive volume of mud and water into the river system. Repoert said the event was likely linked to a preceding 4.4-magnitude earthquake, although authorities were still assessing the precise sequence that produced the catastrophic flooding.
The scale of the destruction has prompted concern about further flooding in the region. Rescue teams on both sides of the border are continuing operations while authorities work to restore access to isolated areas and account for those still missing.
