Nepal-Tibet Floods: Death Toll Reaches 165 as Hundreds Remain Missing

Kathmandu, Nepal — Catastrophic flooding and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border have killed at least 165 people and left hundreds more missing after torrents of water, mud and debris swept through communities on both sides of the frontier.

The disaster, which struck on Wednesday morning, destroyed homes, roads and vehicles and left rescue teams searching through mud and debris for survivors.

Authorities are still working to establish the full sequence of events, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has revised its initial assessment of the cause.

Massive Floods Strike Nepal and Tibet

Surveillance footage from the Chinese side of the border captured the scale of the disaster, showing a huge wall of mud and water crashing over a building as people fled for safety.

In Nepal, floodwaters surged through villages and towns along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, sweeping away buildings and vehicles and cutting off communities.

Nepal initially described the disaster primarily as flooding, while Chinese authorities referred to a major mudslide at a border area in Tibet.

The destruction has been particularly severe in northern Nepal, where several communities lie along river valleys connecting the Himalayan region with central parts of the country.

Hundreds of People Remain Missing

The death toll has reached at least 165, with 162 deaths reported in Nepal and three in Tibet.

The number of missing remains substantial.

Chinese authorities have reported 558 people missing, including 260 foreign nationals. On the Nepalese side, authorities said 468 tourists were unaccounted for, including 393 foreigners.

The missing foreign nationals include citizens of India, Ukraine, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, South Africa and several other countries.

Australia has separately confirmed that 34 of its citizens are missing in Nepal.

Nepalese authorities have also reported 93 Nepali citizens missing.

With communications disrupted in some affected areas and roads damaged by landslides, officials have warned that the figures could change as rescue teams reach isolated communities.

International Aid Begins Arriving

Governments and humanitarian organisations have moved to support Nepal's emergency response.

The United States has pledged $500,000 in emergency assistance, while the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has released $1.4 million for the response.

David Fisher, the IFRC's head in Nepal, said the immediate priority was reaching communities cut off by the disaster and assisting people who had lost their homes or suffered injuries.

The European Union has activated its Copernicus satellite monitoring system to support rescue and recovery operations and said it was prepared to provide additional assistance.

The World Health Organization has also dispatched emergency medical supplies.

Neighbouring India has sent an initial 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance as rescue and relief efforts continue.

Cause of Disaster Revised

The cause of the disaster has remained uncertain since the floods struck.

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal initially suggested that an earthquake may have triggered a landslide, potentially blocking a river and causing a sudden release of water downstream.

Chinese authorities also reported a landslide and a powerful surge of debris affecting a border hub between Tibet and Nepal.

Early seismic readings appeared to support the possibility of an earthquake, with the USGS initially reporting seismic activity in Tibet.

However, the USGS later revised its assessment after analysing additional seismic data, long-period waves and satellite imagery.

The agency concluded that the event was not an earthquake but a glacial collapse followed by a debris flow.

The USGS said the glacial collapse caused the catastrophic downstream impacts across Nepal and Tibet.

Climate Risks in the Himalayas

The revised assessment has renewed attention on the growing risks posed by unstable glaciers and rapidly changing Himalayan environments.

Scientists have warned that rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt and increasing the potential for sudden glacial collapses, landslides and destructive floods.

For communities living downstream, such events can provide little warning, particularly when debris blocks rivers before suddenly releasing enormous volumes of water.

Rescue Efforts Continue

Rescue teams are continuing to search for survivors while authorities assess the destruction.

Operations have been complicated by damaged roads, landslides, unstable terrain and the scale of the affected area.

The large number of foreign tourists among those missing has also prompted governments around the world to coordinate with Nepalese authorities and local tourism operators.

As rescue workers reach more isolated areas, authorities are expected to revise casualty and missing-person figures.

For now, the priority remains finding survivors, delivering emergency supplies and preventing further loss of life as Nepal and Tibet confront one of the region's most devastating recent natural disasters.