Nepal Flood Disaster Leaves 95 Dead as Hundreds of Travellers Remain Missing

At least 95 people have died after a devastating flash flood swept through the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China’s Tibet, destroying homes, roads, bridges and power infrastructure and leaving hundreds of people unaccounted for. The disaster struck on Wednesday after a huge wall of mud and rock collapsed into the Lhende River, triggering a sudden surge of floodwater through Nepal’s northern Rasuwa district. Authorities suspect the collapse may have been linked to a 4.4 magnitude earthquake, although investigations into the exact cause are continuing.

The Bhote Koshi River rapidly overflowed, sweeping through communities including Syapru Besi and Timure. Videos from the area showed powerful torrents carrying vehicles and debris through settlements, while entire sections of roads and bridges were washed away. The Nepal Tourism Board said 384 travellers had initially been reported missing, including 291 foreign nationals. Those unaccounted for include tourists and pilgrims from countries such as India, the UK, the US, Malaysia, South Africa and Australia.

Among the missing are 12 British nationals, including a 13-year-old girl, who were travelling with a tour group operating in the Nepal-Tibet border region. The disaster has also caused extensive damage to Nepal’s energy infrastructure. Officials said about 430 megawatts of electricity generation capacity had been affected, representing more than 12% of the country’s total hydropower capacity. Rescue operations involving the Nepal Army, police and emergency teams are under way, but difficult weather, high river levels and damaged access routes are hampering the response. Helicopters have struggled to land in some of the worst-hit areas, leaving rescuers unable to reach many isolated communities quickly.

Authorities have warned residents living near the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers to move to safer ground and remain alert because of the possibility of further flooding. There are also concerns that a blockage upstream could trigger another surge of water. On the Tibetan side of the border, a mudslide struck the Gyirong port, an important crossing between Nepal and China, cutting roads, communications and electricity supplies. Chinese authorities have also launched rescue operations, while President Xi Jinping called for intensified search efforts and stronger early-warning measures.

The scale of the destruction is still being assessed, and authorities expect the number of casualties and missing people to change as rescue teams gain access to affected areas. The disaster has renewed concerns about the growing vulnerability of Himalayan communities to extreme rainfall, landslides and glacier related hazards.