Rescue teams in Nepal and China are searching for nearly 1,000 people still missing after a glacial collapse triggered a devastating flash flood on Wednesday, bringing the confirmed death toll to at least 362. In Nepal, 359 fatalities have been recorded, while China reported three deaths. The disaster has left hundreds of foreign nationals unaccounted for, with India reporting the highest number of missing citizens at 288.
The flood originated in Tibet’s Gyirong County, where 558 people are missing, including 260 foreigners. In Nepal, the hardest-hit areas include Trishuli, Devighat, Chitwan district, and Nuwakot, with Kathmandu also affected. The Bhotekoshi River, swollen by the flood, has swept through settlements and infrastructure, leaving little trace of some communities.
Authorities warn that the risk remains high, with approximately 3 million cubic meters of water—equivalent to 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools—expected to flow into an already dammed lake over the next three days. The debris flow moved at roughly 50 meters per second and extended more than 20 kilometers, according to Chinese government geologist Guo Zhaocheng. The U.S. Geological Survey initially recorded a magnitude-4.4 seismic event but later attributed it to the glacial collapse rather than an earthquake.
Survivors described the flood as sudden and catastrophic. Janak Bahadur, a resident of Devighat, recalled the river appearing small from a distance before rapidly overflowing and sweeping through the area. Sagar Pandey, chief executive of a Himalayan tourism operator, stated that entire settlements, including hotels and restaurants, were flattened, with no signs of human habitation remaining.
Officials have raised concerns about climate change’s role in destabilizing high-mountain rock and ice. Simon Cox, chief scientist at Earth Sciences New Zealand, noted that warming conditions increase the likelihood of such events. Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah, whose government is five months into its term, has pledged full support for recovery efforts.
The disaster has drawn international attention, with rescue teams from multiple countries assisting in the search. The Red Cross and other organizations are coordinating aid, while governments urge caution as the risk of further flooding persists through early September.
