A catastrophic natural disaster along the Nepal–Tibet border has left at least 165 people dead, while more than 1,300 people remain missing, according to reports cited by The Dawn. Many international tourists are feared to be among those missing.
Massive Flash Flood Sweeps Away Vehicles
The disaster struck on Wednesday morning, August 26, when a huge wall of water reportedly surged downstream. Locals described the torrent as being around 100 metres high.
The Timure market area was rapidly inundated, while more than 300 trucks and other vehicles waiting at a customs point were swept away. People in the area were forced to flee for their lives.
Initial reports linked the disaster to an earthquake. However, the US Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that glacial collapse and landslides were likely responsible for triggering the devastating flood.
Death Toll Could Rise
The floodwaters struck communities along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers. Nepal Police said at least 162 bodies had been recovered, while authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams reach previously inaccessible areas.
Nepal’s disaster management authorities said 823 people inside Nepal could not yet be contacted. Among those missing are 579 Nepali citizens and foreign tourists.
Across the border in Tibet, a landslide at the Gyirong port reportedly killed three people, according to Chinese state media. Another 558 people remain missing, including around 260 foreign nationals.
Nepal Police spokesperson Abhi Narayan Kafle said rescue operations had resumed on a larger scale and that the number of fatalities could exceed 165 as more bodies are recovered.
Prime Minister Visits Affected Area
Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has travelled by road toward Bidur in Nuwakot, one of the worst-affected districts, to assess the situation and oversee the response to the disaster.
The scale of the destruction, the large number of missing people and the difficult mountainous terrain are making rescue operations particularly challenging.
