Rescue operations in Nepal intensified on Thursday as teams searched for hundreds still missing following a catastrophic landslide that caused severe flooding along the Himalayan border with China’s Tibet region. The disaster has claimed at least 162 lives so far.
Helicopters were deployed to survey remote locations where powerful torrents of mud, rocks, and water swept through towns and valleys, destroying homes, roads, and critical infrastructure. Nepal’s tourism authorities reported that 579 tourists remain unaccounted for, with over 400 of them being foreign nationals. Officials warned that the death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams continue to recover bodies from debris-covered areas.
Notably, the missing include 47 US citizens, 34 Australians, 33 Britons, and 24 Canadians. Meanwhile, China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported 558 people missing in Tibet’s Gyirong county, including 260 foreigners, though it remains unclear if these figures overlap with Nepal’s missing persons count.
Verified footage captured the devastating force of water and debris surging through the Gyirong border crossing, sweeping away people and causing widespread destruction. The floods also damaged homes, roads, and power infrastructure downstream in Nepal.
Survivor Keshav Prasad Baral, 68, recounted the moment the flood struck his home. He described a massive wave of mud approaching and trying to move his wife to safety on the terrace, but she was swept away as the mud entered their house. Baral was rescued by helicopter about four hours later, but his wife remains missing beneath the debris.
Another survivor escaped by clinging to a mango tree while witnessing the flood engulf the house where he had been working.
In a significant development, helicopters began delivering tents, food, and other emergency supplies to the hardest-hit districts, with aid provided by neighboring India. Initial reports suggested that an earthquake might have triggered the collapse of a glacier, causing the floods. However, the U.S. Geological Survey clarified that the seismic activity initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake was actually energy released by the collapse of glacial rock and ice, followed by debris flow.
Many victims were pilgrims en route to Kailash Mansarovar, a sacred high-altitude site in Tibet revered by Hindus, Buddhists, and others. Mount Kailash, believed by Hindus to be the abode of Lord Shiva, is situated near Lake Mansarovar, which holds religious significance across various faiths.
The U.S. State Department announced it is sending a disaster response adviser and providing $500,000 in aid. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney described the floods as “absolutely devastating” and confirmed close monitoring of the situation. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that UN teams and partners are dispatching supplies and personnel to assist affected Nepali communities.
China’s state broadcaster reported three deaths and 265 missing in Gyirong, with the toll still being verified amid ongoing rescue efforts. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed 34 Australians are among the missing, noting Nepal’s limited resources to handle such disasters compared to Australia. South Korea reported eight nationals missing who were working on a hydropower project, while Malaysia and Japan also confirmed some missing citizens.
Security footage from the Chinese side showed people fleeing a destructive torrent of rock, mud, and water that demolished buildings and vehicles, causing numerous fatalities. In Nepal, families seeking information about missing relatives gathered outside an army training center serving as the base for helicopter rescue missions. Police recorded missing persons’ names using mobile phone flashlights after power outages caused by damage to hydropower plants.
The affected areas were blanketed in mud, covering homes, trees, and vehicles. Helicopters continuously transported survivors throughout the day. Satellite imagery analysis revealed that a landslide of ice and rock unleashed a debris-filled flood along the Lhende River, approximately 20 kilometers northeast of the Nepal-China Rasuwagadhi border crossing.
Television footage showed collapsed homes, floating cars, and a metal bridge being swept away, while witnesses described entire villages being submerged. Health worker Tula Bahadur BK from Rasuwa described widespread devastation, noting that settlements near the river were completely destroyed and that five of his relatives remain missing.
China’s official Xinhua news agency reported that the mudslide struck the Gyirong port, severing roads, communications, and power in the Shigatse border region. A rescuer interviewed by CCTV described unsuccessful attempts to contact the Gyirong border port, stating that no results had been achieved so far. Drone inspections confirmed that all roads leading to the border crossing were entirely destroyed.
