Tibet, Aug 27 (V7N) - A massive mudslide and flash flood struck the Himalayan border between Nepal and China’s Tibet region on Wednesday, killing at least 157 people and leaving hundreds missing, including tourists.
A huge wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river, triggering catastrophic flooding on the Nepali side. Verified video footage showed people being swept away by the powerful torrent, while houses, roads and power infrastructure were destroyed.
Authorities on both sides of the border have warned that the number of casualties could rise significantly as rescue and recovery operations continue.
In Nepal, the disaster caused widespread destruction in the mountainous border region, washing away homes, roads and power projects. Hundreds of people, including tourists, remain unaccounted for.
On the Chinese side, officials reported a major mudslide in Gyirong County, near a border crossing, and warned of potentially heavy casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure.
Survivors described the sudden disaster as an enormous wall of mud and debris rushing towards homes and settlements, leaving people with little time to escape.
Rescue teams from Nepal have been deployed to the affected areas, with helicopters being used to evacuate survivors and search for missing people. Difficult terrain, damaged roads and continuing risks from landslides and flooding are complicating rescue efforts.
Officials in both Nepal and Tibet are continuing to assess the scale of the devastation and search for those still missing. The death toll is expected to rise as emergency teams gain access to areas cut off by the disaster.
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