At least 95 people have been killed in Nepal after a powerful flash flood and mudslide swept across the border region with Tibet. Hundreds of tourists are still missing, turning the popular Himalayan area into a scene of destruction and despair.
According to Nepal’s tourism authorities, the missing visitors include more than 100 people from India, 54 from the United States and 33 from the United Kingdom. The region attracts large numbers of pilgrims and trekkers each year, according to BBC News.
The flood also swept away police officers, army personnel and electricity workers who were in the area when the disaster struck. Roads and buildings were buried under thick layers of mud, while rescue teams faced dangerous conditions as they searched for survivors.
One woman described watching her family disappear in the rushing water. She and her son survived only after climbing onto the roof of a building. Her account reflects the sudden and terrifying force of the disaster, which gave many people little time to escape.
Across the border in Tibet, Chinese state media reported three deaths and 265 people missing. CCTV footage showed a huge wall of water and mud crashing into buildings at a border crossing, carrying debris through the area.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued personal instructions concerning the rescue operation. Such intervention usually signals that the authorities consider an incident particularly serious.
Nepal’s foreign minister said the flood may have been triggered by an earthquake that caused an avalanche. Investigators are examining the possible chain of events, while emergency teams continue searching for those still missing.
The full scale of the tragedy remains uncertain, and officials warn that the death toll could rise as rescuers reach isolated communities and damaged border settlements.
