Himalayan Flash Floods Kill 353, Leave Over 1,300 Missing

Rescue teams are combing through debris along the Nepal-China border after a catastrophic flash flood killed at least 353 people and left more than 1,300 missing. The torrent of water and mud, described as several stories high, swept through Himalayan communities on Wednesday following a glacier collapse.

In the hard-hit Nuwakot district, video footage shows villages overrun by mud and water, with buildings partially submerged and others damaged. Roads are buried under thick sludge, and debris hangs from tree branches and power lines. Vehicles lie entombed in mud, while stunned survivors, caked in dirt, wait for news of loved ones.

Hundreds of people have gathered outside an army barracks in Nuwakot, hoping for word of missing family and friends. Each helicopter landing brings a surge of anxious hope, with some finding relief while others continue to wait. Many are also seeking air transport back to villages cut off by the destruction.

The missing include scores of foreigners and pilgrims, and hundreds more have been displaced across the region. The steep valleys below the Himalayas are particularly vulnerable to such disasters, and scientists note that melting glaciers—accelerated by human-caused climate change—are making these events more frequent.

The United Nations has released emergency funds to support medical care, shelter, and clean water for those affected. Search operations are ongoing as families remain desperate for answers.