Death toll in Nepal reaches over 175 after a catastrophic flash flood, triggered by a massive glacial collapse and debris flow near the Nepal-Tibet border, has devastated central Nepal and parts of neighboring Tibet.
As reported by the Guardian, nearly 1,500 people including almost 800 foreigners are missing across Nepal and China’s Tibet, authorities said on Thursday, after a wall of mud and rock collapsed into a Himalayan River, sending catastrophic flash floods through towns and valleys.
The sudden surge of water tore down the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river valleys, sweeping away entire villages, bridges, and infrastructure.
Tourism boards report that hundreds of foreign travelers, tourists, and pilgrims are among the missing, including citizens from India, the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, and Israel.
Initially suspected to be linked to seismic activity, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and international researchers confirmed the disaster was generated by an avalanche of ice, rock, and water caused by a sudden glacial collapse in the warming Himalayan region.
Flash floods caused vast structural damage. Authorities informed at least 19 motorable bridges were washed away, and critical mountain highway links connecting border checkpoints were heavily damaged.
Multiple operational and under-construction hydroelectric projects along the river basins suffered severe structural damage, impacting regional power supply.
Emergency services, military personnel, and local scouts are utilizing helicopters to access remote, mountainous pockets where traditional roads are impassable.
Foreign governments, including the US, India, China, and the EU have pledged assistance and established emergency helplines to track stranded citizens and tourists.
Rescuers in Nepal used helicopters to search for survivors and drop emergency supplies to thousands cut off after Wednesday’s disaster swept a rugged mountainous region thronged by trekkers and pilgrims linking Lhasa in Tibet with Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu.
