The Bhotekoshi flood struck the mountainous Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday morning, resulting in at least 469 confirmed deaths and over 1,500 people reported missing across Nepal and China's Tibet region. Authorities in Kathmandu stated that the flooding was triggered by a glacial collapse that sent a significant amount of mud and rock into a Himalayan river, causing catastrophic flooding in local towns and valleys. The Rasuwa district in Nepal, located just south of the Chinese border, experienced some of the worst damage.
Television footage depicted collapsed homes, floating vehicles, and washed-away bridges, while witnesses reported that entire villages were submerged. Search and rescue teams are currently navigating the region to locate victims, but their efforts are hindered by damaged infrastructure, including roads and bridges.
Initially, officials speculated that a magnitude 4.4 earthquake might have caused the floods, but experts, including the United States Geological Survey, clarified that the seismic event was a result of the glacial collapse and subsequent debris flow. A glacial collapse refers to the detachment of a large mass of glacier ice, which can lead to a highly mobile avalanche or debris flow.
Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority indicated that the flood occurred in the Lhende Khola river due to an ice-rock avalanche on the Nepali side. The initial surge entered the Lhende Khola, which feeds into the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, causing water levels in the Trishuli to rise by as much as 9 meters (27 feet) within 30 minutes.
As of Friday morning, the death toll has risen to 469, with three fatalities reported in the Tibet region. The official nationality counts for the deceased are still pending. Reports indicate that bodies swept away by the floods are being found far downstream, leading to overcrowding in local morgues. Authorities are exploring alternative solutions for storing and identifying the deceased.
In addition to Nepali nationals, the Department of Tourism reported that 668 tourists from 34 countries have lost contact since the disaster, with many on trekking expeditions. Among the missing are at least 177 individuals from India, 90 from the United States, 34 from Australia, 33 from the United Kingdom, and 25 from Canada. The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that 100 Chinese nationals are also among the missing.
Many of the Indian nationals were en route to Tibet for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a significant pilgrimage. In Tibet's Gyirong county, 558 individuals are reported missing, including 260 foreign nationals.
Rescue operations involve helicopters deployed to search for survivors and deliver emergency supplies to those stranded in mountainous areas. However, the challenging terrain and damaged infrastructure complicate these efforts.
Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah has traveled to the affected districts to assess the situation. The Indian government has evacuated thousands from its northern states as the floods threaten the Gandak River Basin. Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the mudslide site in Tibet to oversee emergency rescue efforts.
On Friday morning, officials in Rasuwa district received a notice about a lake that had breached its banks, raising concerns about rising water levels. Nepalese authorities temporarily halted rescue operations in the area. Chinese state media reported that a dammed lake upstream had begun to overflow, prompting warnings for residents to move to higher ground as risks of secondary disasters increase.