BREAKING: Over 380 Tourists Missing After Flash Flood Hits Near Nepal-Tibet Border (Video)

Watch the moment Catastrophic flooding kills dozens, sweeps away villages and hydropower projects.

 

A massive flash flood on the Himalayan border of Nepal and China’s Tibet on Wednesday left at least 19 to 31 people confirmed dead and more than 380 people missing, including hundreds of foreign tourists, as a wall of mud and rock tore through villages, roads, and power projects.

What happened

Officials said the disaster struck at around 9:00 AM local time when the Bhote Koshi River, which flows down from Tibet, suddenly surged. Verified videos and CCTV footage showed a wall of rock, mud and water collapsing into the river and sweeping away buildings, vehicles, and bridges within seconds.

The flood devastated Nepal’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts, with the worst hit areas being Syapru Besi and Timure in Rasuwa district. Homes, roads, and at least a dozen hydropower projects were destroyed.

On the Tibetan side, a mudslide hit Gyirong county and the Gyirong border crossing, cutting road, communications and power links. Chinese officials also reported “major casualties” and missing people.

Casualties and Missing

The death toll remains unclear as rescue efforts continue. Reports as of Wednesday evening put confirmed deaths between 9 and 31.

The Nepal Tourism Board said a preliminary record identified 384 travellers missing from the affected areas. This includes:
– 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals
– 105 Indians, including 37 NRIs
– 3 U.S. citizens and 12 British nationals
– Tourists from Malaysia, South Africa, Australia, Netherlands, and others
– About 8 South Korean nationals also reported unaccounted for

Nepal Police also reported that 26 police personnel and 7 Armed Police Force personnel are missing in Rasuwa district.

Cause and Rescue Efforts

The exact cause is still under investigation. Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told parliament that a 4.4 magnitude earthquake occurred at 8:37 AM and may have triggered a landslide that blocked the river and caused the flood. The German Research Centre for Geosciences confirmed the quake happened about 7 minutes before footage of the collapse.

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Rescue has been hampered because river levels are too high for helicopters to land in Syapru Besi and Timure. The Nepal Army has deployed helicopters and disaster response teams. District administrator Narendra Pariyar urged people living on the banks of the Bhote Koshi to move to higher ground.

Nepal Police warned residents along the entire Trishuli river system — including Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and Gorkha — to remain on high alert. Flood alerts were also issued in Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Damage

Witnesses described “devastation everywhere we look”. Settlements next to the river were “completely swept away”. Images showed crumbled homes in floodwaters, floating cars, and a metal bridge being washed away.

The Nepal Electricity Authority confirmed damage to 6 major facilities including Rasuwagadhi, Chilime, and Trishuli hydropower stations, disrupting electricity supply. Several highways have also been closed.

 

WATCH THE VIDEO

 

Emergency Contacts

The Nepal Tourism Board has issued emergency numbers for families searching for missing travellers: Toll free 1234, Hotline 1144, Tourist Police 9851289445.

Authorities fear the casualty count could rise as waters recede and access to cut-off villages improves. This is the second deadly flash flood on the Bhote Koshi in a year — a similar event last year was traced to a glacier lake outburst.

_This is a developing story. We will update as more details emerge.