Rescue teams searched Thursday for hundreds of people missing after catastrophic flash floods swept through communities along the Nepal-China border, killing at least 359 people in Nepal and leaving hundreds more unaccounted for in Tibet.
The disaster struck Wednesday after a glacier collapse sent a massive torrent of water, mud and debris through mountainous communities. Videos showed residents fleeing as floodwaters overwhelmed homes, roads and bridges.
Nepalese authorities reported more than 800 people missing, while officials in Tibet reported three deaths and 558 missing. It remained unclear whether some of the figures overlap.
Thousands Join Search and Rescue Effort
Nepal deployed 9,260 members of its army, police and armed police forces as rescuers worked through areas covered in mud and debris.
The Nepalese army has used helicopters to evacuate more than 100 people from affected areas, including people trapped at facilities connected to the Trishuli hydropower project. Dozens of injured survivors were taken to Kathmandu for advanced medical care.
Nearly 40 kilometers (25 miles) of roads were damaged and dozens of bridges destroyed, making access to some communities difficult.
In Nuwakot district, rescuers used bulldozers and sniffer dogs to search homes and clear roads. Thick mud-covered buildings and vehicles, while debris remained tangled in trees and power lines.
The Nepal Red Cross Society said the response was shifting toward large-scale relief operations, with about 1,200 people displaced from at least three villages.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah visited affected communities and directed officials to assist displaced families and restore damaged infrastructure.
Foreigners Among Those Missing
Families across several countries continued waiting for news of relatives who disappeared in the floods.
Nepal’s Tourism Board reported hundreds of missing foreigners, including 178 people from India and more than 60 from the United States. Others were from countries including the United Kingdom, Ukraine, South Africa and Japan.
Many were believed to have been traveling toward Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred destination for Hindus, Buddhists and others.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said 288 Indian nationals were missing, including some workers involved in a power project. China said nearly 100 Chinese citizens were missing in Nepal and that hundreds of foreigners were also missing in Tibet.
A group of 77 pilgrims was reportedly caught at an immigration office near the border when the flood struck. The group included 22 U.S. citizens, according to spiritual teacher Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.
Risk of Another Flood Grows
The rescue effort was complicated by fears of another disaster.
A lake formed near the China-Nepal border after landslides blocked waterways. Chinese authorities warned that continued rainfall could cause the lake to overflow or breach its natural barrier, potentially sending another surge downstream.
Authorities urged residents and rescue workers near the Bhote Koshi River to remain vigilant and move to safety if necessary.
In Tibet, the Gyirong Port area was covered by mud more than 1.5 meters (5 feet) deep. Roads to the crossing were damaged, and officials warned that additional landslides could occur as rain continued.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang traveled to Gyirong Thursday to oversee rescue efforts involving hundreds of military and paramilitary personnel.
The United Nations announced $2 million in emergency assistance for medical care, shelter and water.
Glacier Collapse Triggered Floods
The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported an earthquake near the border before updating its assessment and identifying a magnitude 5.2 glacier collapse as the cause of the debris flow.
Climate experts at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development said an avalanche from a glacier likely triggered the flash flood. Water levels in the Trishuli River reportedly rose by as much as 9 meters (27 feet) in 30 minutes.
The disaster underscores the vulnerability of Himalayan communities to sudden flooding, landslides, and unstable glaciers. With additional rain forecast and a newly formed lake threatening to overflow, authorities remain on alert as rescue teams continue searching for survivors.
