KATHMANDU: At least 95 people have died and hundreds of tourists are missing after a devastating flood struck near Nepal’s border with Tibet, triggering a major rescue operation in the Himalayan region.
Authorities said an avalanche of ice and rocks may have collapsed into the Lhende Khola river following a suspected earthquake, causing a sudden surge of floodwater and debris.
Nepal’s tourism ministry reported that 341 foreign nationals are among those missing, raising concerns about the scale of the disaster. Officials have warned that another flood could occur because a blockage remains upstream in the river.
Police and military personnel have been deployed to search for missing people and evacuate residents from vulnerable areas. However, rescue helicopters have reportedly been unable to land in the affected areas until floodwaters recede.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences said a 4.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded in the region shortly before security footage showed people fleeing the border area.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal told parliament that initial reports indicated the earthquake may have triggered the ice-rock avalanche that caused the flooding.
The disaster has also prompted flood alerts in India’s Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states, where rivers flowing from the Himalayas could pose additional risks.
China has deployed hundreds of rescuers near the Gyirong border crossing, where roads, communication links and power infrastructure were damaged.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out search for missing people and urged authorities to strengthen monitoring and early-warning systems.
Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah also directed authorities to move people living in low-lying areas to safer locations and urged communities along the river to remain alert.
