KATHMANDU: The death toll from devastating floods in Nepal has risen to 362, while more than 500 tourists remain missing, authorities said Thursday as rescue teams continued searching affected areas.
The flooding occurred in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, where a sudden torrent swept through the area, causing widespread destruction and leaving hundreds of people unaccounted for.
According to Nepalese tourism authorities, more than 400 foreign nationals are among those reported missing. They include 142 Indians, 54 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons, 24 Canadians, 17 Malaysians and 53 Ukrainians.
Several nationals from South Korea, South Africa, Portugal and the Netherlands are also reported missing, with search and rescue operations underway.
China’s Tibet also hit by landslides
Meanwhile, Chinese state media reported that 558 people were missing in Gyirong, in Tibet, following landslides triggered by severe flooding. The missing include 260 foreign nationals, while three people have been reported dead.
Flooding and landslides have caused extensive damage to homes, roads and power infrastructure in the border region, according to Chinese media reports.
Rescue teams are continuing operations in both affected areas as authorities work to locate missing people and assess the full extent of the damage.
How the disaster unfolded
The disaster began Wednesday morning when part of a glacier in the Himalayas broke away and crashed into a valley, according to international news agencies.
Initial reports suggested that an earthquake may have triggered the incident. However, the U.S. Geological Survey said the tremors that were detected were not caused by an earthquake but were generated by the energy released when ice and rocks fell from the glacier.
The mass of ice and rock plunged into the Lende Khola river, which flows along the mountainous border between Nepal and Tibet.
The resulting mud and debris surge struck the Gyirong port area in Tibet, triggering a powerful flash flood. Roads and power infrastructure were severely damaged, while several villages were inundated.
Rescue teams on both sides of the border are continuing operations to locate missing people, recover bodies and assess the extent of the destruction.