At Least 160 Dead, Hundreds Missing After Catastrophic Flash Flood

A catastrophic flash flood tore through the mountainous border region between Nepal and China on Wednesday, killing at least 160 people and leaving hundreds more missing as entire communities were buried in mud and debris.

The disaster struck across parts of Nepal and Tibet, destroying roads, washing away bridges and cutting off travel through some of the region’s most important mountain corridors.

Authorities in Nepal reported at least 157 deaths, while China’s state broadcaster CCTV said a mudslide in Tibet’s Gyirong County killed at least three people and left 265 missing.

Drone footage from the devastated region showed roads ripped apart and buildings buried under thick layers of mud.

In Nepal’s hard-hit Nuwakot district, the destruction was severe. Some buildings appeared buried up to their second floors, vehicles were trapped beneath debris, and stunned survivors were seen covered in mud.

Officials said more than 400 people were reported missing in Nepal alone.

Among them were 341 foreign nationals, according to tourism officials.

The missing included 133 people from India who had been traveling on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred site for Hindus.

Also reported missing were 47 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 British citizens and 24 Canadians.

The U.S. State Department said it was aware of Americans affected by the disaster.

At least 62 missing Nepalese citizens were believed to be among hundreds of people trekking near Gosaikunda Lake in Rasuwa during the Janai Purnima festival.

Nepal police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle also said at least 28 police officers were missing.

The flooding began around 9 a.m. when the Bhotekoshi River surged, destroying villages and hydropower projects.

At least 19 bridges were swept away.

Authorities warned residents to stay away from the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers as fears remained that conditions could worsen.

“We have asked both India and China to help us with the rescue efforts,” government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel said.

The disaster also caused confusion among monitoring agencies.

The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported a magnitude 4.4 earthquake about 41 miles north of Kathmandu near the border.

It later updated the event and classified it as a magnitude 5.2 landslide.

Foreign governments quickly began trying to locate their citizens.

South Korean officials said nine citizens working on a hydropower project in Nepal were among the missing.

Malaysia’s foreign ministry said travel agencies had lost contact with 11 Malaysians believed to be in Rasuwa district.

Russia’s embassy in Nepal said four Russian citizens who were thought to be in the affected area were also missing.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah and offered assistance.

“India is prepared to provide Nepal with all possible types of humanitarian assistance,” Modi said, adding that Indian teams were coordinating with Nepal on rescue and relief operations.

United Nations agencies were also beginning to deploy.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned that the humanitarian needs would likely be enormous.

Australia, Britain, the European Union, Finland, France, Norway and Switzerland issued a joint statement expressing solidarity with those affected and urging people in the disaster zone to follow official safety warnings.

Experts believe the flooding may have been triggered by an avalanche involving a glacier.

Researchers with the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development said the flood wave moved with extraordinary speed and force.

At one point, water levels along the Trishuli River reportedly rose as much as 27 feet in only 30 minutes.

The Lhende Khola River, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi, experienced some of the worst flooding.

Disaster risk specialist Saswata Sanyal said the river has now flooded twice in just 14 months.

He said Wednesday’s disaster was likely triggered by an ice and rock avalanche from a glacier on the Nepalese side that temporarily blocked the river before unleashing a sudden surge downstream.

Experts say the disaster highlights the growing dangers facing the Himalayan region as temperatures rise and glaciers melt.

The same area suffered major flash flooding in August 2025 after a glacial lake in Tibet overflowed during unusually high temperatures.

Nine people died in that disaster, and important infrastructure — including a bridge linking Nepal and China — was damaged.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that the Himalayas are particularly vulnerable to extreme rainfall, landslides, floods and melting glaciers.

Research released earlier this year found that glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region are disappearing at an accelerating pace, with ice-loss rates doubling since 2000.