The Nepal Himalaya flood disaster has left nearly 1,500 people missing across Nepal and China’s Tibet, authorities said Thursday. A massive collapse of mud, rock and glacial material sent a powerful surge through valleys and towns near the Nepal-Tibet border.
Nepali authorities said 826 people remain missing in Nepal, including almost 600 foreign nationals. Police expect the death toll to rise as rescue teams reach areas cut off by the disaster.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported another 558 people missing in Tibet’s Gyirong county. The figure includes about 260 foreign nationals.
The disaster struck a remote Himalayan region popular with trekkers and pilgrims travelling between Lhasa and Kathmandu.
Hundreds of Foreign Tourists Are Missing
Foreign nationals make up a large share of those missing in Nepal.
Officials reported that at least 177 Indians, 63 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 25 Canadians remain unaccounted for. Tourists from more than two dozen countries are among those missing.
Many people had travelled through the region as part of pilgrimages to Kailash Mansarovar, a sacred site in Tibet.
Mount Kailash holds deep religious importance for Hindus and Buddhists. Hindus traditionally regard the mountain as the home of Lord Shiva.
Survivors Describe the Power of the Flood
Survivors described terrifying scenes as mud, water and rocks swept through communities.
Keshav Prasad Baral, a 68-year-old survivor, said a huge wall of mud suddenly moved towards his home. He tried to save his wife as the flood entered the building.
Baral managed to reach the terrace, but the rushing debris swept his wife away. A helicopter rescued him several hours later.
Another survivor said he clung to a mango tree while watching a house disappear beneath the flood.
The disaster destroyed homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure across the affected region.
Rescue Teams Search for Survivors
Nepal has deployed more than 5,000 army and police personnel for search and rescue operations.
Helicopters have become vital because several communities remain isolated. Rescue crews are also using aircraft to deliver tents, food and other emergency supplies.
India has provided emergency assistance to Nepal, while the United States said it would send a disaster response adviser and provide $500,000 in assistance.
Canada and the United Nations have also offered support.
Nepali army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet said helicopters were delivering essential supplies to some of the hardest-hit areas.
Landslide Triggered the Catastrophic Flood
Early reports suggested that an earthquake might have triggered the disaster. However, further analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey pointed to another cause.
The agency said seismic energy came from the collapse of glacial rock and ice, followed by a massive debris flow.
Satellite images also indicated that a landslide involving ice and rock unleashed floodwater and debris into the Lhende River.
Chinese authorities have warned about a still-dammed lake upstream from the affected border area. Officials fear it could create additional dangers and complicate rescue operations.
Entire Communities Swept Away
The scale of destruction has made rescue efforts extremely difficult.
Sagar Pandey, who leads a Himalayan tourism company, said he saw widespread destruction after flying over the affected region.
He said almost nothing remained in some areas, with homes, hotels, restaurants and vehicles swept away.
In Nepal’s Nuwakot and Dhading districts, relatives of missing people gathered near an army training centre serving as a base for helicopter rescue operations.
Several metres of mud covered homes, trees and vehicles in some locations.
Health worker Tula Bahadur BK described the scene as devastating.
He said settlements along the river had been completely swept away and reported that five of his relatives were still missing.
International Response Grows
Governments around the world are monitoring the disaster because hundreds of foreign nationals remain missing.
U.S. officials have offered emergency assistance, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the flooding as devastating.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was also following developments because information from the remote region remained limited.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said U.N. teams and partners were preparing supplies and personnel to support affected communities.
Rescue teams continue to search through the debris as authorities work to determine the full scale of the disaster.
With hundreds of people still missing in both Nepal and Tibet, officials warn that the Nepal Himalaya flood could become one of the region’s most serious recent natural disasters.
