Flash floods and mudslides caused by a glacial collapse in Tibet have left at least 157 people dead and hundreds missing across northern Nepal, sparking a major international search operation.
Key points
- Flooding along the Bhote Koshi and Trisuli rivers was triggered by a debris and snow avalanche originating from Tibet rather than an earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey.
- Prime Minister of Nepal Balendra Shah ordered the immediate evacuation of residents as rescue operations deployed thousands of police and security personnel.
- The tourism ministry reported that over 400 tourists, including many foreign nationals and pilgrims from India, the United States, Australia, Britain, and Canada, were listed as missing.
- India deployed 10 tons of humanitarian assistance and emergency medicine to Kathmandu, while leaders from India and China offered support and coordination.
Why it matters
The transboundary flash flood highlights the severe vulnerability of Himalayan valley communities to climate-induced glacial hazards, causing mass casualties and infrastructure damage across international borders.
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