Nepal-Tibet Border Flash Flood and Mudslide Leaves 359 Dead and Nearly 2,000 Missing

At least 359 people have died and hundreds others remain missing following a catastrophic flash flood and mudslide along the Nepal-Tibet border, according to updates from the BBC, Nepal police, and Chinese state media. The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse and debris flow in Rasuwa on Wednesday, has washed away villages, destroyed infrastructure, and left hundreds of tourists out of contact.

Nepal police confirmed that 359 bodies had been recovered from affected areas as search-and-rescue operations continued on both sides of the border, according to BBC reporting. Authorities in Kathmandu anticipate a huge-scale loss of life as rescue teams struggle to reach remote zones. China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that the death toll in Tibet’s Gyirong county stood at three, while the number of missing people there rose to 558, including 260 foreign nationals.

International Citizens Missing Amid Border Devastation

The missing population includes a significant number of foreign nationals and tourists. Sunil Sharma, a spokesperson for the Nepal Tourism Board, told the BBC that 644 tourists were out of contact, contributing to an overall Nepali missing count of 826 people. According to Sharma, the missing include 288 Indian nationals, 127 Nepali tourists, 65 Americans, 53 Ukrainians, 51 Malaysians, 35 Australians, and 33 UK nationals. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson added that nearly 100 Chinese nationals are also reported missing in Nepal.

Expedition and travel companies have confirmed that several of their clients are among those unaccounted for. Alpine Eco Trek, which runs guided tours in the region, stated that 12 British nationals, two Irish nationals, and four South Africans on a cross-border tour are missing. Another operator, Kailash Journeys, reported to the BBC that 27 of its guests, including seven British citizens, are missing. Travel logs shared with the PA news agency indicate that the missing British citizens range in age from 13 to 65.

Glacial Collapse Confirmed as Cause

The disaster initially registered as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake on Wednesday, according to the US Geological Survey. However, the USGS stated on Thursday that further analysis confirmed no earthquake occurred. The event was instead a glacial collapse and debris flow that unleashed catastrophic impacts downstream.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) issued warnings regarding a secondary potential flooding event driven by debris clogging regional river systems. The Bhote Koshi river, which flows from Tibet into Nepal, remains on high alert. Verified video footage analyzed by BBC Verify located damaged infrastructure in the Trishuli Bazaar area of Nuwakot District, roughly 25 kilometers north-west of Kathmandu, where the river suddenly swelled with massive amounts of water and sediment, sweeping away bridges and multi-storey buildings.