UDIN DHUNGA, Nepal — At least 18 people have been killed and hundreds of travellers are missing following a devastating flash flood along the Nepal-Tibet border, with Nepal’s tourism authorities reporting about 400 missing travellers, including 300+ foreign nationals.
The disaster struck early Wednesday in Nepal’s northern Rasuwa district, near the border with Tibet, sweeping away bridges, damaging buildings and disrupting infrastructure.
Among those reported missing are more than 100 people from India and 12 from the United Kingdom, according to Nepal’s tourism authorities.
Chinese state media has also reported major casualties in Tibet, although the full scale of the damage and loss of life on the Chinese side remains unclear.
At least 18 killed in Nepal
Nepalese authorities have so far confirmed at least 18 deaths following the flash floods.
Police reported one death in Rasuwa, seven in Nuwakot, six in Dhading and four in Gorkha.
The floods caused widespread destruction, with verified footage showing a bridge being swept away and multi-storey buildings collapsing under the force of rapidly moving floodwaters.
Images from Nuwakot also showed houses partially submerged by muddy water.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said huge losses of life and property had been reported in Timure, Syabrubesi and Betrawati.
The floods also damaged the Trishuli hydropower station and swept away bridges in several locations, further complicating rescue and relief operations.
Nepal army launches major rescue operation
The Nepalese Army has deployed helicopters and troops to reach people trapped by the floods.
An army spokesman said 88 survivors had been rescued, while efforts were under way to reach another 115 people trapped in the village of Mailung.
A total of 15 helicopters have been mobilised for search and rescue operations as authorities race against time to locate missing travellers and residents.
The difficult terrain and damage to roads and bridges have made access to affected communities particularly challenging.
Hundreds of travellers missing
Nepal’s tourism board said it had identified around 400 missing travellers, including 291 foreign nationals.
More than 100 Indians are reportedly among those missing, while the list also includes 12 British nationals.
The high number of foreign tourists affected has raised concerns among governments and diplomatic missions as rescue teams attempt to establish the whereabouts of travellers who were in the affected region.
The US embassy in Nepal warned of severe flooding in Rasuwa and issued alerts for communities along the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers.
Possible earthquake and avalanche link
Nepal’s Foreign Minister said preliminary information suggested the disaster may have been triggered by an earthquake that caused an avalanche, subsequently leading to the flash floods.
Authorities are still investigating the exact sequence of events, and the initial explanation has not yet been confirmed as the definitive cause.
The combination of mountainous terrain, unstable slopes and rapidly rising water has complicated efforts to assess the disaster.
Tibet also reports major casualties
The disaster has also affected the Tibetan side of the border.
Chinese state media outlet CCTV reported major casualties in Tibet, which is administered by China.
Details about deaths, injuries and missing people in Tibet remained limited as rescue and assessment operations continued.
The cross-border nature of the disaster has increased concerns about travellers and communities in remote mountainous areas.
Rescue efforts continue
With hundreds of people still unaccounted for, rescue teams are continuing operations across the affected areas.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates as helicopters reach isolated communities and emergency teams gain access to areas cut off by destroyed bridges and flooded roads.
The immediate priority remains locating missing people, treating survivors and restoring access to communities affected by the deadly floods.
