Nepal Flash Floods: Avalanche Triggers Devastation, Hundreds Missing
Flash floods triggered by an avalanche in Nepal have killed at least eight people, with hundreds of tourists and locals reported missing.
At least eight people have been killed and hundreds are reported missing after a massive flash flood swept through parts of Nepal on Wednesday. The disaster was triggered by an avalanche of ice and rock, which caused the Bhotekoshi River to overflow around 9 a.m., destroying villages, roads, and hydropower projects in its path.
Officials have reported that 384 tourists, including 291 from countries such as India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia, are among those missing. The worst-affected area is Rasuwa district, where authorities have issued warnings to residents to stay away from the banks of the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli, and Narayani rivers.
The Nepali government has reached out to neighboring countries for assistance. "We have asked both India and China to help us with the rescue efforts," said Sasmit Pokharel, a government spokesperson. Rescue operations are underway, with armed police personnel evacuating injured individuals by helicopter and providing emergency medical aid.
Climate experts at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Kathmandu suggest that an avalanche from a glacier likely caused the flash flood, with the Lhende Khola River, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi, experiencing maximum flooding. The Himalayan region is particularly vulnerable to such extreme weather events due to accelerated warming caused by climate change. Research indicates that glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region are melting at an alarming rate, with ice loss rates doubling since 2000.