Nepal: At least 16 dead, nearly 400 missing after flood near China border

At least 16 people have died and nearly 400 pilgrims remain out of contact in Nepal following a sudden flood that struck several villages near the border with Tibet. The deluge, which occurred Wednesday, also damaged roads and infrastructure, disrupting a key land route between Nepal and China.

Rajendra Prasad Dhamala, spokesperson for the Nepal Police in the Bagmati province, confirmed the death toll, but authorities fear it may rise. The Nepal Tourism Board reports that 384 travelers are missing, including 93 Nepalis and 291 foreigners from various countries such as India, Malaysia, Britain, South Africa, the United States, Australia, and the Netherlands. Efforts are underway to confirm the nationalities of 111 others.

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It is difficult to assess at this moment, but it is possible that both the damage and the number of victims will be considerable.

The floodwaters overflowed the Bhote Koshi River early Wednesday, heavily impacting the Rasuwa district, including the areas of Timure, Rasuwagadhi, and Syabrubesi. Six military helicopters and eight private ones have been deployed for search and rescue operations. The Nepalese Army spokesperson, Rajaram Basnet, stated that 29 people have been rescued so far.

Preliminary assessments by Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal suggest an earthquake may have triggered the event. A 4.4 magnitude earthquake was registered by the U.S. Geological Survey with an epicenter in the region. The landslide is believed to have blocked the Bhote Koshi River, leading to the flood. Authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage and locate the missing individuals.

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An earthquake occurred at 8:37 (22:52 yesterday in Chile) today and, due to it, a large landslide occurred that blocked the river (Bhote Koshi), which appears to have caused the flood.