A glacial collapse and massive flash floods along the Nepal–China border have killed at least 165 people and left 961 missing, including hundreds of foreign tourists and pilgrims, officials said Thursday.
Chinese media reported that mudslides in Tibet killed three people and left 558 missing, including 260 foreigners. Two local villagers were rescued, reports AP.
In Nepal, police said at least 162 people died in Wednesday’s torrents, which cut off travel through steep valleys that serve as vital economic and transport corridors.
Authorities reported 403 missing, including 341 foreigners. Tourism board spokesperson Sunil Sharma said the missing include 133 Indian pilgrims bound for Mount Kailash, 47 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 24 Canadians. The US State Department confirmed it is aware of affected Americans.
Drone footage showed destroyed roads and buildings buried under cement‑colored water. In Nuwakot district, mud covered second floors, debris clung to trees and wires, vehicles were buried, and survivors were coated in mud.
Residents had little time to escape. “When I reached Dhunge bazaar, in half an hour, the flood came and damaged all the market. People were preparing to go to office then,” said local resident Shoyam Rajbhandari. “How many people are missing or dead, we don’t know.”
