The death toll from devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border has risen to 392, while 1,468 people remain missing as rescue teams continue searching for survivors across the disaster zone.
Of those killed, 389 died in Nepal and three in neighbouring Tibet. Authorities reported that 910 people remain missing in Nepal, while another 558 are unaccounted for in Tibet.
The floods struck on Wednesday after a suspected glacial collapse and ice-rock avalanche near Langtang Lirung triggered a massive surge of water, mud and debris downstream. The powerful flow swept away homes, roads, vehicles and bridges and caused extensive destruction across areas including Rasuwa and Nuwakot.
Nepalese authorities said the geological collapse occurred on the Nepali side of the Himalayan border. Rocks, ice and debris entered the Lhende River, creating a devastating flow that travelled downstream towards the Trishuli River and surrounding communities.
The disaster has severely damaged transport links and infrastructure, making rescue operations particularly difficult. Military and civilian teams are using helicopters and other resources to reach people who remain trapped or unaccounted for.
Nepal Police said hundreds of people have already been rescued and evacuated from affected areas. However, the scale of destruction and damaged roads and bridges continues to hamper efforts to reach remote communities.
The floods have also affected hundreds of foreign nationals, including tourists and pilgrims travelling towards Tibet. Nepal’s Tourism Board reported that 667 tourists were missing, including 540 foreigners from 31 countries.
Indian nationals make up a significant number of those missing. Indian authorities have reported that around 288 citizens remain unaccounted for in Nepal, while rescue and consular teams continue efforts to establish their whereabouts.
Families across several countries are anxiously waiting for information about relatives caught in the disaster. Many of those missing were travelling as tourists, trekkers or pilgrims, including people heading towards sacred sites in Tibet.
Authorities are also warning that the danger may not be over. A newly formed or rapidly rising barrier lake near the Nepal-China border has raised fears of another major flood if the lake breaches. Communities downstream are being urged to remain alert as authorities assess the risk.
The scale of the devastation has prompted an international response, with governments and humanitarian organisations offering assistance. Search-and-rescue teams are continuing to work in difficult conditions while authorities assess damage, evacuate vulnerable communities and prepare for the possibility of further flooding.
The disaster has also raised renewed concerns about the vulnerability of Himalayan communities to glacial and landslide-related hazards. Scientists examining satellite imagery say a major landslide involving bedrock, ice and boulders near Langtang Lirung appears to have triggered the catastrophic flood.
With hundreds still missing and the threat of additional flooding remaining, rescue teams face a race against time to locate survivors and bring relief to communities devastated by one of the region’s most destructive recent disasters.