The death toll from devastating flash floods and mudslides on the Nepal-China border climbed to 160 as over 680 tourists, travelers, security personnel, workers, and locals were reported missing Wednesday in both countries, according to officials.
Nepalese police said rescuers have so far recovered 157 bodies while 54 people were rescued from the flood-affected area.
Chinese state-run media reported three dead and 265 others missing in the southern Tibet region.
According to the Nepalese Prime Minister’s office, 44 army personnel, 28 police officers and 13 armed police as well as 60 civilian employees working on hydropower projects are also missing.
The number of missing tourists and travelers was initially given as 484, including 391 foreigners and 93 Nepalis, the office said.
At least 19 bridges have been swept away, and 40 kilometers (25 miles) of road were damaged, along with 13 hydropower projects, according to Nepalese government estimates.
About 200 trucks were also swept away.
“Due to the flood, a large number of hydropower projects, government offices, and road facilities were erased,” Nepalese Foreign Minister Sishir Khanal said in a briefing to parliament on the disaster.
Mass search, rescue operations underway
Massive search and rescue operations were launched on both sides of the border.
Those reported missing include people from Nepal, India, the UK, South Africa, Malaysia, Australia, and the Netherlands, while the nationalities of many others have yet to be confirmed.
Eight South Korean nationals were “unaccounted for,” while 10 others were stranded following the floods in Nepal, said the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
Khanal said the floods caused widespread destruction in the Rasuwa, Dhading, and Chitwan districts.
“Equipped with helicopters, drones and rafting boards, rescuers from all state forces – Nepal Police, Armed Police and Nepal Army – were deployed to the flood-hit area,” said Khanal.
China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that a mudslide struck near the Gyirong Port, a major border crossing between the two countries, in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, also known as Tibet.
“The disaster has cut off roads leading to the port on the Chinese side, as well as communications and power supplies,” Xinhua reported, citing the emergency management bureau of Gyirong County in Xigaze City.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out” search and rescue efforts.
Xi also ordered efforts to “evacuate residents at risk and provide timely medical treatment to the injured to minimize casualties.”
“Authorities in Xizang have mobilized forces to carry out search and rescue operations. All relevant operations are underway,” Xinhua reported.
In Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, government-run hospitals and medical facilities operated by security agencies were cleared to accommodate the injured.
Tourists often travel to the Rasuwagadhi area to trek in the Langtang region, one of Nepal’s most popular trekking destinations.
Other travelers pass through Rasuwagadhi en route to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in China.
Indians urge caution
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he spoke to his Nepalese counterpart Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences for the loss of lives.
On US social media company X, Modi also said India is ready to provide all humanitarian assistance to Nepal. "Our teams are coordinating closely on rescue and relief efforts," he said.
India dispatched 10 tons of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief assistance and essential medicines to support Nepal’s response to the devastating floods.
Samrat Choudhary, chief Minister of eastern Bihar state, said on X that instructions have been given to “ensure round-the-clock monitoring of embankments, night patrolling, and necessary preparations in sensitive districts,” in view of the Nepalese floods.
People living in low-lying areas have been urged to move to safer places as soon as possible, public broadcaster All India Radio reported.
An initial assessment provided a possible explanation for the sudden surge that caused widespread destruction along the Lhende and Bhotekoshi rivers.
An analysis of Planet Labs satellite imagery indicates that a snow-and-rock landslide near the Nepal-China border triggered a debris-laden flood in the Lhende River, although authorities continue to assess the disaster and its full effect, according to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
The US Geological Survey said it was a 5.2 magnitude landslide and not an earthquake which caused the seismic activity which is blamed for the avalanche and the resulting flash floods.
Earlier, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake was blamed for the avalanche.
