Hundreds are feared dead after a flash flood from Tibet caused the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal to burst its banks. The flooding has caused massive destruction in the Rasuwa district (Langtang area). The Tibetan side of the border was also badly hit, with buildings completely swept away.
A map shows affected areas. Photo: Google Gemini
The flood hit the Syabrubesi and Timure villages. The swollen river swept away the customs office in Timure. The tsunami-like flash flood continued down the riverbed, hitting populated areas, as seen in videos shot by shocked locals:
Nepal’s government has deployed army helicopters, but in some areas the water level is still too high for them to land. The flood has covered narrow fluvial gullies with several meters of mud and debris. The government has mobilized the country’s security forces, but ground access is not an option as flooding has cut many roads.
In Tibet, cameras near Gyirong (formerly Kyirong), on the border with Nepal, show the catastrophic scale of destruction:
Chinese President Xi Jinping has also mobilized extensive search and rescue efforts. “Major losses are feared at Gyirong border port,” Xinhua news reported.
According to The Himalayan Times, authorities are still investigating whether a glacial lake outburst flood caused the surge, or if it was the result of another phenomenon. Though the cause is not yet clear, CNN reports that the draining of a glacial lake led to deadly floods last year.
Glaciologist Simon Cook is part of a team of scientists studying the disaster. Cook told the New York Times that their early assessments of satellite imagery suggest an ice avalanche triggered the flooding. It appears that a large chunk of ice from a high-altitude glacier fell into the Bhote Koshi River.
Nearly 400 travelers missing
Hundreds are missing, and authorities fear many fatalities. Among the missing are many foreigners, including trekkers and pilgrims on their way to Mount Kailash. Nepal’s Tourism Board has released a list of trekking companies whose clients are unaccounted for. The list shows that at least 105 Indian nationals and 37 non-resident Indians (NRIs) are among 384 tourists and travelers missing. Authorities note these are only preliminary numbers.
The number of missing foreigners provided by Nepal trekking companies. Photo: Nepal Tourism Board
The World Health Organization is preparing to send medicine and equipment for around 1,000 people, along with 15 emergency tents. The Ministry of Health has reserved 100 emergency beds at Bir Hospital and the Trauma Centre in Kathmandu, deployed six doctors and two nurses, and is sending an ambulance with medical supplies to affected areas, according to The Himalayan Times.
