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At least 469 people have been confirmed dead after a devastating flash flood swept through parts of Nepal and neighbouring Tibet, with rescue teams continuing to search through tonnes of mud, rocks and debris.
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Nearly 1,000 people remain missing across the two sides of the border, including hundreds of foreign nationals caught in the disaster along a major route linking Kathmandu with Lhasa.
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Authorities fear a second disaster as flood debris has blocked the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal, creating a rising lake that could burst its banks and unleash another destructive surge downstream.
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China has also warned of a high risk of flooding, with about three million cubic metres of water expected to enter an already dammed lake near the disaster zone, potentially peaking around September 1.
August 28, (THEWILL) —The death toll from a devastating flash flood that tore through parts of Nepal and neighbouring Tibet has risen to 469, with rescue authorities warning of further danger as nearly 1,000 people remain missing.
Nepal Police confirmed the latest death toll on Friday as rescue teams deployed heavy machinery, helicopters and sniffer dogs to search through mud, rocks and debris in communities devastated by the sudden torrent.
THEWILL reports that the disaster struck on Wednesday after the collapse of a glacier in the Himalayan region triggered a massive surge of water, ice, rocks, mud and other debris through mountain river systems.
The torrent ripped through villages and valleys, destroying homes, power stations, roads and bridges along a strategically important route connecting Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, with Lhasa in Tibet.
The affected corridor is also popular with trekkers and religious pilgrims, raising fears over the fate of hundreds of foreign nationals reported missing.
Officials said at least 540 foreigners are among those missing in Nepal, while Chinese authorities reported that 558 people were unaccounted for in Gyirong County in Tibet, including 260 foreign nationals.
Rescue operations have been hampered by extensive destruction and blocked roads, forcing authorities to rely heavily on helicopters to evacuate survivors and deliver emergency supplies to thousands of people cut off in remote towns and valleys.
Emergency responders, including teams with sniffer dogs, have also been recovering bodies carried downstream into Nepal’s plains.
Survivors Describe Devastation
The scale of destruction was underscored by accounts from survivors who described having little warning before the flood struck.
Dibga Tamang, among the last people rescued from the badly affected town of Rasuwa on Thursday, was airlifted with three others to an army camp in Nuwakot.
“All of our people have gone. They are dead. I have no one left waiting for me. Everything and everyone is gone. The end”, Tamang said
Another survivor, Janak Bahadur, described the flood as an overwhelming wall of water that appeared to come without warning.
“The flood came in suddenly and exploded like a bomb. The river looked small from a distance, but it suddenly started overflowing and swept through”, he said in Devighat on Thursday.
Authorities are struggling to cope with the number of bodies being recovered from the river system.
Ganesh Aryal, administrator of Chitwan district, said 103 bodies had been recovered from the river system in the district, located about 100 kilometres from the worst-hit area around Trishuli.
With local hospitals unable to accommodate the dead, authorities were erecting tents and making arrangements for families to identify and claim the bodies of their relatives.
The disaster has also triggered an international search for missing foreigners, with countries including India, Australia and South Korea sending assistance and rescue teams.
In Malaysia, relatives of missing pilgrims have been anxiously awaiting news.
Vasanthi Muniandy, whose sister Vennila was travelling with a Hindu pilgrimage group from Malaysia, said she last heard from her after she crossed into Tibet from Nepal.
“I am totally broken. My sister is very important to me. I really want her to come back. I don’t have anyone but her. I just want her to come back home. I want her to be safe”, Vasanthi stated.
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Threat Of Fresh Flooding
While rescue teams continue to search for survivors, authorities are confronting the threat of another potentially catastrophic flood. Nepal’s disaster management authority warned that debris blocking the Bhotekoshi River at the flood site has created a lake whose water level is continuing to rise.
Officials fear the debris dam could give way, unleashing a new torrent on communities downstream.
Across the border, China has issued a similar warning, saying about three million cubic metres of water (roughly equivalent to 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools), is expected to flow into an already dammed lake over the next three days.
Chinese state media, citing the Ministry of Water Resources, reported that there was a high risk the lake could breach, with peak water flow expected around September 1.
“The volume of water is continuing to increase, and so is the risk”, Zhu Jinfeng, a researcher with the ministry’s hydrology department, told state broadcaster CCTV.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
