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Catastrophic Floods Strike Himalayan Region
Massive flash floods and landslides have devastated the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, leaving at least 100 people dead and hundreds more missing . The disaster struck on Wednesday morning, August 26, when a wall of mud, rocks, and water swept through communities along the Bhote Koshi River .
Nepalese police confirmed 100 fatalities as of Wednesday evening, with reports indicating 95 bodies have been recovered . Chinese authorities reported three deaths and 265 missing in Tibet’s Gyirong county . The Nepalese Army has rescued over 100 people from the hardest-hit Rasuwa district .
Tourists and Foreign Nationals Among Missing
Hundreds of travelers are unaccounted for, including 341 foreign nationals, according to Nepal’s tourism board . Those reported missing include citizens from India, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Malaysia, South Africa, Australia, and the Netherlands . The missing also include 44 army personnel, 28 police officers, and 60 power project workers in Nepal .
Cause and Ongoing Risks
An earthquake-triggered ice-rock avalanche on the Lhende Khola river is suspected to have caused the floods . The disaster has caused extensive damage, sweeping away 19 bridges and damaging 40 kilometers of road . Nepal’s energy ministry reported that approximately 430 megawatts of hydropower generation capacity has been affected .
Authorities warn that a second flood may occur due to a lingering blockage upstream, and flood alerts have been issued in India’s Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states .
