Italian survivor recounts Nepal flood terror: 'A huge roar and a brown cloud'

Valentina Piccinini recounted the terrifying moments of a flood in Nepal, describing a "huge roar" and an "immense brown cloud" that surged towards her and 12 other pilgrims heading to Mount Kailash.

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We were twelve on a bus heading to Mount Kailash for a pilgrimage when we saw a huge brown cloud coming towards us and heard an immense roar. When we realized it was an avalanche, the driver opened the doors and we ran on foot.

"When we realized it was an avalanche, the driver opened the doors and we ran on foot," Piccinini told ANSA. She stumbled while escaping, losing a slipper, and found herself running in the opposite direction of others, scrambling up the mountainside.

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As I was descending, I stumbled and lost my slipper, I heard my name being shouted but at that moment I saw nothing but the brown cloud coming at me. So, without realizing it, I went in the opposite direction of the others. I fled into the mountains, I climbed as high as I could.

"Without the help of the Nepalis, I would not be here now," she stated, emphasizing the life-saving efforts of locals. Her partner, Stefano Lotumolo, also a survivor, shared his experience on Instagram, calling the mud waves "incredible heights" and expressing his disbelief at being alive. He described the devastation in the village of Timore, near the Nepal-China border, showing "what remains of the village."

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Without the help of the Nepalis, I would not be here now. My partner Stefano and our guide Tashi were convinced I was dead. Tashi was my guardian angel, he risked his life for me several times.

Piccinini had initially posted on social media, "Nepal destroyed me. But the Nepalis saved me." Her father, Michele Piccinini, expressed relief that she was safe, though acknowledged the tragedy that befell others. Valentina had contacted her family two days prior to reassure them. She was in Nepal with her partner, whom she met during a humanitarian project in Tanzania. Rescue efforts were hampered by weather, with Piccinini being extracted the day after the flood and taken to Kathmandu to arrange new documents for her return to Italy. Two other Italians, Giovanni Fassini and Marco Lombardi, also arrived in Kathmandu and were preparing to fly back to Italy after their holiday was disrupted by the devastating floods.

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The Nepal destroyed me. The Nepal destroyed me. But the Nepalis saved me.