A glacial collapse on the Nepal China border triggered a catastrophic flash flood that struck the Rasuwa District and surrounding Himalayan areas, officials said. Nepal Police reported at least 157 people have died and said more than 150 bodies have been recovered.
Reuters, citing the Nepal Tourism Board, said more than 400 tourists were missing, including 47 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 24 Canadians. Another initial account described nearly 400 people reported missing and dozens of dead, as search teams raced to reach cut-off communities.
The flood swept down the Bhote Koshi River at about 8:30 a.m. local time, destroying buildings and damaging roads, bridges, electricity lines and communications. The U.S. Department of State said the water entered Nepal from Tibet and struck Rasuwagadhi, Timure, Syafrubesi and other parts of Rasuwa District.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said an analysis of Planet Labs satellite images indicated a glacier-inclusive flood occurred in the Lhende River. The agency said a snow rock landslide about 20 kilometres northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing was the initial trigger.
The U.S. Geological Survey said it initially recorded a magnitude 4.4 seismic report but later determined the seismic energy came from a landslide. The USGS said the shaking from the collapse was equal to a magnitude 5.2 earthquake and that a glacial collapse combined with a debris flow produced the downstream devastation.
Impact Response And Warnings
Search and rescue teams continued operations amid widespread damage and cut communications. The Nepal Tourism Board, tourist police and local tourism stakeholders said they were working to verify the safety and whereabouts of travellers in affected areas.
The U.S. Embassy in Nepal said it was working to account for U.S. citizens who may have been affected. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted solidarity and prayer for the Nepali people and said the State Department stood ready to support humanitarian assistance.
Authorities warned communities along the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers to expect impacts and issued local alerts. A U.S. Embassy advisory urged U.S. citizens in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan and Tanahun to avoid riverbanks and low lying areas.
Video footage published by news organisations showed bridges being torn apart and people running for cover. The BBC said it edited some clips for distressing content. Officials cautioned that casualty and missing figures were preliminary and that it could take time to reach isolated settlements.
