Nepal-Tibet border flash flood leaves hundreds dead, thousands missing

A catastrophic flash flood and landslide swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, killing at least 160 people and leaving hundreds of foreign tourists among the missing, according to officials and multiple reports.

The disaster struck the mountainous Rasuwa district and surrounding areas, sending a wall of mud and water through the Bhote Koshi river valley. Surveillance footage verified by AFP showed dozens of people fleeing as a towering surge of debris slammed into the Chinese side of the border, tossing lorries and buses aside. The Nepalese army has mobilised 15 helicopters and rescued 88 people so far, a spokesman said, while more than 200 personnel with drones, 3D laser scanners, and life detectors join the search.

Rising toll and uncertain numbers

Authorities in Nepal have reported fleeing death tolls that have climbed throughout the day. Nepal police said 157 bodies had been recovered on Wednesday, with 270 bodies found as of Thursday, according to a report from RNZ. Chinese state media reported at least three dead and 265 missing in Tibet's Gyirong county. In total, nearly 1,400 people are reported missing, most of them tourists, according to The Guardian.

The Nepal Tourism Board has described a shifting picture: initially, officials said about 400 tourists were missing, including 291 foreigners and more than 100 Indians, as reported by BBC. Later tallies cited by The Guardian put the number of missing at 403, with 341 foreign nationals unaccounted for. Another count reported by the Jerusalem Post, citing officials, listed 570 tourists missing, including 517 foreigners from 33 countries. The discrepancies reflect the evolving situation.

Among the missing are citizens of countries worldwide: more than 100 Indians, 54 US nationals, 33 Britons, 24 Canadians, 34 Australians, 17 Malaysians, and nationals of Germany, Japan, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, and the Netherlands, as reported by BBC, RNZ, and The Guardian. India's foreign ministry said at least 288 Indians are missing, with another 200 stranded in China, while Nepal's police said 579 tourists were missing as of one count.

Families await word

Families have shared anxious details in hopes of finding their loved ones. Suhasini Reddy, a New Zealand citizen living in Australia, was hiking with a group from Australia with the Kailash Journeys Guides. Her brother Rajeev told RNZ she was due to meet Chinese immigration authorities around 11am local time on the day of the disaster, which struck around 8:30am. Hamilton couple Mihir and Kinnari Patel were in Nepal to celebrate Kinnari's 50th birthday; their son Drishya received a WhatsApp message from his mother at 5:30am saying "Leaving for Kerung." Dejan Kuzmic, a New Zealand man, was part of the Trojan Foundation's Sacred Walks pilgrimage group travelling towards Mount Kailash; Nepal's tourist police confirmed his name to RNZ.

The five New Zealanders missing were confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which deployed consular staff to Nepal. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the images as "heartbreaking," and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand was "deeply concerned." A joint statement from the embassies of Australia, Finland, France, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK said: "We are deeply saddened by the devastating flooding in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts and surrounding areas."

Cause and experts

Initial reports suggested an earthquake may have triggered the avalanche and flood, but the US Geological Survey indicated that seismic energy detected was generated by a landslide itself, not an earthquake. The exact trigger remains uncertain; water from rainfall or melting ice may have destabilised the ground. Climate change is driving faster glacier melt in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, but scientists say it is too soon to pinpoint its role in this event.

"Climate change is generating conditions that can destabilize high-mountain rock and ice," said Simon Cox, chief scientist at Earth Sciences New Zealand, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. Dr Tom Robinson of the University of Canterbury noted the Himalayan region's growing instability with rising temperatures, though he could not attribute this specific avalanche.

The flash flood, originating from a glacier collapse, swept through the Bhote Koshi valley, destroying entire settlements and infrastructure. Bishal Nath Upreti, president of the Nepal Centre for Disaster Management, described it as a "tsunami from the sky," adding: "It's twenty million cubic meters of excess water on the river... Villages for almost 40 to 50 kilometres were completely wiped out." More than 15bn Nepalese rupees worth of roads and bridges were damaged, and at least six major hydroElectric plants were damaged.

Past events and recovery

Last year, flash floods in the same area killed at least 18 people. The current disaster ranks among the most severe in Nepal since the 2015 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000. Authorities are urging residents to stay on high alert in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, and nomadic with residents to move to safer locations. As Nepalese Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said, risk remains," with danger from possible further landslides and floods.

International governments are mobilising consular support and emergency offers. The UK has pledged initial £5m in support, while New Zealand's High Commission is seeking information on affected citizens. The joint statement protocol UN and I is to follow local guidance.

Perspectives

  • Nepal authorities: Official numbers of death and missing have risen, and they are coordinating search-and-rescue with international support.
  • Families of the missing: Families express anguish and hope, pleading for information as they await updates.
  • China's state media: They reported substantial casualties in Tibet and are directing rescue efforts, with hundreds missing in Gyirong.
  • International governments: Several embassies have issued joint statements urging citizens to follow local guidance and implementing consular support.
  • Scientists: Some cite climate change as a background factor increasing the risk of displacement of high-mountain rock and ice, but attribute the immediate cause to a landslide or glacier collapse.
  • Tour operators: Companies such as Kailash Journeys and Alpine Eco Trek have confirmed missing individuals and are struggling with limited information.

Editor's note: This article was compiled from reporting by BBC News, RNZ, The Guardian, and Jerusalem Post, with information as of the time of their reports. Figures cited may change as rescue and recovery operations continue.