At least 31 people have been confirmed dead, while hundreds of tourists remain missing after a devastating flash flood and mudslide struck the Nepal-Tibet border, authorities have said.
The disaster, described as Nepal’s worst since the 2015 earthquake, swept through several districts, destroying homes, bridges, roads and hydropower facilities, while leaving a trail of destruction across communities along the border with Tibet.
According to Nepal’s Tourism Board, about 400 travellers are unaccounted for, including 291 foreign tourists. The missing include more than 100 Indians, 12 British nationals, 17 Malaysians, four South Africans, three Americans, one Australian and one Dutch national, while the identities of 111 others are yet to be confirmed.
Nepalese authorities said 93 people have also been injured in the disaster.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said preliminary findings suggest the flooding was triggered after an earthquake caused an avalanche in the mountainous region.
He added that rescue teams were still verifying the exact cause of the disaster.
Khanal also disclosed that dozens of security personnel, customs officials and immigration officers were missing, while roads, communication facilities, bridges and hydropower infrastructure suffered extensive damage. Rasuwa and Nuwakot were identified as the worst-hit districts.
Nepal’s army said it had rescued 88 survivors and deployed 15 helicopters for ongoing search and rescue operations. Troops are also working to evacuate more than 100 people trapped in the affected communities.
On the Tibetan side of the border, Chinese state media reported major casualties after a wall of mud and floodwater struck the Gyirong border crossing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an “all-out” search and rescue operation and directed authorities to strengthen monitoring and early warning systems to prevent further disasters.
Footage from surveillance cameras in Tibet showed torrents of water and mud crashing into buildings, while verified videos from Nepal captured bridges being swept away and multi-storey buildings collapsing under the force of the floodwaters.
The United States Embassy in Nepal said it was working to account for affected Americans after confirming that at least three US citizens were among those missing. The embassy also advised its citizens to avoid the disaster area.
Officials warned that rescue efforts remain difficult as damaged infrastructure and continuing flood risks hamper access to the affected areas.
