A catastrophic flash flood struck the Nepal Tibet border region after a glacial collapse, sweeping down the Bhote Koshi River and into the Rasuwa District.
Nepal Police said at least 157 people have died and that over 150 bodies have been recovered as search and rescue operations continue for hundreds reported missing.
Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said an initial analysis of Planet Labs satellite images indicates a glacier inclusive flood in the Lhende River was caused by a snow rock landslide on the Nepal China border about 20 kilometres northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.
The flood entered Nepal from Tibet and struck Rasuwagadhi, Timure, Syafrubesi and surrounding areas, authorities said. Reuters and FOX Weather reported that buildings were destroyed and roads, bridges, electricity infrastructure and communications were damaged.
The U S Geological Survey said an initial magnitude 4.4 earthquake report was revised after further analysis. The USGS said long period seismic waves indicated the energy came from a landslide and that the shaking was equivalent to a magnitude 5.2 event. The agency determined the seismic event was a glacial collapse and subsequent debris flow.
Response, Casualties And Warnings
Reuters cited a Nepal Tourism Board spokesperson saying more than 400 tourists are missing and that 47 Americans were among them. The Reuters tally included 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 24 Canadians among the missing.
The BBC, reporting from footage of the event, said at least 31 people died and that video showed bridges tearing apart as people fled. BBC video also captured mudslides and rescuers moving through flooded areas.
The U S Embassy in Nepal said it is working to account for U S citizens who may have been affected and urged Americans in several districts to avoid riverbanks and low lying areas. The embassy named Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan and Tanahun in its advisory.
U S Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X expressing solidarity and said the State Department stands ready to support Nepal with humanitarian assistance. The Nepal Tourism Board, Tourist Police and tourism stakeholders said they are working to verify the whereabouts and safety of travellers in the affected areas.
Nepali authorities have issued warnings for communities along the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers as rescue teams continue efforts amid widespread infrastructure damage and uncertain access to several mountain valleys.
