A massive flash flood, triggered by an avalanche of ice and rock, has torn through a Himalayan river valley shared between Nepal and the Chinese territory of Tibet. The wall of water swept away villages, roads, bridges, and power projects, causing widespread damage to infrastructure across the border regions.
At least 22 bodies have been recovered, though authorities warn the death toll is likely to rise. Officials report that 384 people are missing, including over 90 Nepali nationals and 291 tourists from countries such as the United States, India, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia. In the Tibetan county of Gyirong, a mudslide hit a land crossing at the Gyirong Port, leading to fears of major casualties.
The leaders of Nepal and China have ordered major rescue operations to locate the missing. However, rescue helicopters have been unable to land in the affected areas due to high flood waters and are not expected to do so until the waters recede. Authorities anticipate that the final count of casualties and property losses could be significantly higher.