At least 165 people have died and more than 1,000 remain missing after a catastrophic flash flood and debris flow struck the Nepal-Tibet border. Nepalese authorities said 823 people remained out of contact, including 579 tourists, while Chinese state media reported another 558 missing in Tibet’s Gyirong county. Hundreds of foreign nationals from India, Ukraine, Australia, the UK, Malaysia, South Korea, the US and other countries are among those unaccounted for, although officials warned that some figures from Nepal and China may overlap.
The disaster swept through villages, markets, roads and border facilities, with rescue teams searching for survivors amid extensive mud and debris. The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported an earthquake but later determined that the seismic activity was caused by a glacial collapse and debris flow, which triggered catastrophic flooding downstream. Nepal and China have deployed emergency workers, vehicles, helicopters, boats and rescue dogs, while international organisations and governments have offered assistance. Authorities have also warned that a blockage upstream could potentially cause another flood.
The tragedy highlights the exposure of Himalayan communities and tourists to abrupt glacial and climate-related hazards. And the final toll may be a lot higher as many people are still unaccounted for and large areas are difficult to access. The extent of the devastation has also prompted fears over the safety of infrastructure and tourism routes along the Nepal-China border as rescue workers continue their search for missing people and to assess the damage.
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