Hundreds Missing and Many Feared Dead After Catastrophic Flash Flood Hits Nepal-China Border

POLICY WIRE — Kathmandu, Nepal — A catastrophic flash flood has struck the Nepal-China border, resulting in at least 95 confirmed deaths and hundreds missing. The disaster, triggered by an earthquake-induced landslide blocking the Bhote Koshi river, has caused widespread devastation.

In Nepal, dramatic footage shows torrents of water overwhelming villages and submerging settlements. Helicopters have been deployed to rescue stranded individuals from rooftops. The small Himalayan nation has been severely impacted, with almost 400 travelers, including foreign nationals, reported missing.

In China, three people have been confirmed dead and over 250 are missing, according to state media. A mudslide hit Gyirong port, prompting Chinese leader Xi Jinping to call for “all-out” search efforts. Rescue teams are working to clear roads in Tibet’s Gyirong county, though efforts are complicated by ongoing rain and the risk of further landslides.

Nepal’s foreign minister, Shishir Khanal, stated that an earthquake triggered a large landslide, which blocked the Bhote Koshi river and sent a torrent of water downstream. An expert from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu explained that the landslide likely took the form of an ice rock avalanche from a glacier on the Nepal side that blocked the river and released a sudden surge downstream.

Rescue operations are facing significant challenges. In Nepal, helicopters are struggling to land due to high floodwaters, though the Nepali army has shared videos of helicopters hovering above floodwater and buildings to allow people to climb to safety. In China, authorities have dispatched 600 firefighters with search and rescue dogs, life detectors, inflatable boats, and other equipment.

China has allocated approximately $17 million in natural disaster relief funds for immediate rescue and relief efforts. The disaster has also impacted Gyirong port, a major land border crossing between China and Nepal, which has seen significant infrastructure development as part of China’s Belt and Road initiative.

The flash flood has caused severe damage to the 20 MW Langtang Khola Hydroelectric Project in Rasuwa municipality, with 60 employees reported missing. The Red Cross has deployed an emergency team with relief supplies to the affected areas, urging communities to stay alert and follow official safety instructions.

The Himalayan region, known for its susceptibility to flash floods and landslides, has seen several major natural disasters in recent years, highlighting the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to the climate crisis.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)