Glacial Collapse Floods Kill 160 on Nepal-China Border
Flash floods from a glacial collapse on the Nepal-China border have killed at least 160 people, with hundreds more missing.
At least 160 people have been confirmed dead after massive flash floods swept through communities along the Nepal-China border on Wednesday, triggered by a glacial collapse in the warming Himalayan region. Hundreds of tourists, workers, and others remain missing, and travel in several areas has been halted.
Nepal police have reported at least 157 deaths within the country. Officials say 403 people are missing, including 341 foreigners. Among them are 133 Indian pilgrims who were en route to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred Hindu site. The missing also include 47 US citizens, 34 Australians, 33 Britons, and 24 Canadians, according to a tourism board spokesperson.
In Nepal's Nuwakot district, one of the hardest-hit areas, images show the second floors of buildings caked in mud, debris hanging from trees and power lines, and vehicles buried under the torrent. Stunned survivors were seen covered in mud as helicopters flew overhead to assess the damage.
Nepal police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle confirmed that at least 28 police officials are among the missing. The region's steep valleys serve as vital economic lifelines and travel corridors, but they remain highly vulnerable when disaster strikes.