Nepal and Tibet Flood Death Toll Exceeds 1,300 According to Two Records

A violent flood that struck Nepal on Wednesday has resulted in at least 162 deaths and left over 826 people missing, according to Nepali police. Three additional deaths were reported in Tibet. The disaster has impacted areas along the Nepal-China border, with provisional lists of the missing exceeding 1,300 names on both sides.

Among the missing are 579 travelers, security forces, customs officials, and workers from hydroelectric projects. Reuters estimates nearly 600 foreigners from 28 countries are unaccounted for. Chinese authorities reported 558 missing in Tibet, including 260 foreigners. Nepali authorities confirmed that two Spanish citizens are among those missing. The total death toll currently stands at 165.

Rescue teams are working to access devastated areas, facing challenges posed by destroyed roads. International experts are attempting to determine the exact cause of the catastrophe. Satellite images are being used to reconstruct the event's origin. The combined lists from Nepal and Tibet total 1,384 missing persons, though authorities are verifying if there is any overlap, especially concerning foreigners crossing the border.

Bodies have been found in eight districts, some washed downstream for tens of kilometers. Helicopter operations have resumed, with military and private aircraft evacuating people and distributing emergency supplies like tents and food provided by India to the hardest-hit districts. Injured individuals are receiving initial treatment at field medical posts before being transferred to Kathmandu for serious cases.