At least 22 people have died and 384 travelers remain missing after a flash flood struck Nepal’s northern Rasuwa district near the Tibet border on Aug. 26.
The flooding hit the Bhote Koshi River around 8:30 am local time, sweeping through communities and damaging roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.
Authorities warned residents to avoid the banks of the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers. Rescue operations have been complicated by destroyed infrastructure and inaccessible communities.
The Nepal Red Cross has deployed teams with water, blankets, shelter materials and first-aid supplies, while the government has asked India and China to assist with rescue efforts.
Officials are still working to establish the nationalities and safety status of hundreds of missing travelers. China’s state broadcaster also reported casualties and missing people near Gyirong Port in Tibet following a mudslide on the Nepalese side.
Researchers at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development said an ice-rock avalanche from a glacier likely blocked the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi, before releasing a sudden surge downstream.
The area experienced another major flash flood last year. Climate researchers have warned that glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya are melting faster, with ice-loss rates accelerating since 2000 amid rising global temperatures.
Sources: Reuters; Nepal Tourism Board; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; AFP; International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development; USA TODAY.
