At least nine people have been killed after torrential flash floods swept through communities along the Nepal-Tibet border, destroying homes, roads, bridges and power infrastructure and raising fears that the death toll could increase.
The disaster struck the mountainous Rasuwa district of Nepal on Wednesday, with the areas around Syapru Besi and Timure among the worst affected. Floodwaters surged through settlements along the Bhote Koshi River, washing away houses, vehicles and infrastructure.
Across the border in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, authorities reported missing people and warned of potentially severe casualties after a mudslide struck a major border crossing in Gyirong County.
The scale of the destruction has hampered rescue operations. In Nepal, helicopters deployed to assist affected communities have struggled to land because of dangerous water levels and difficult weather conditions.
Authorities have urged residents living close to the Bhote Koshi and other vulnerable river systems to move to higher ground as the floodwaters continue to pose a threat downstream.
Television footage showed muddy torrents sweeping through settlements, with vehicles carried away by the rushing water and bridges collapsing under the force of the flood.
The flooding has also damaged hydropower facilities and other critical infrastructure, disrupting electricity and communications in parts of the affected region.
Nepalese security agencies have mobilised personnel for search-and-rescue operations, while officials continue to assess the extent of the destruction and search for people reported missing.
The exact cause of the sudden surge remains under investigation. Officials have not ruled out a landslide or other sudden release of water upstream, while reports indicate significant rainfall and instability on the Tibetan side of the border.
The disaster comes after the region experienced another deadly flood last year, underscoring the vulnerability of communities and infrastructure along the Himalayan river systems.
With rescue efforts still underway and several areas difficult to access, authorities are bracing for the possibility of further casualties and a wider assessment of damage in the coming hours.
