Nepal border floods kill 22; 380 missing including 8 South Koreans

A sudden flood in Nepal's mountainous Rasuwa district, near the Chinese border, has claimed 22 lives and left more than 380 people missing, including eight South Korean nationals. The disaster, which occurred on Wednesday, was triggered by torrential rains that caused landslides and swept away buildings, vehicles, and bridges in the region. Videos circulating on social media show massive floods inundating buildings and carrying debris through valleys. Local media reports indicate that road and power infrastructure have been severely damaged, isolating many areas. The Nepal Tourism Board stated that 291 foreign tourists are among the missing, with nationalities including Indian, Australian, Dutch, American, Malaysian, British, and South African. While heavy rainfall is considered a primary cause, Nepalese authorities are investigating other potential factors. The Foreign Minister suggested that a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, occurring shortly before the flood, may have caused a large landslide that blocked the river, leading to the overflow. There is also speculation that significant rainfall on the Tibetan side could have caused a glacial lake to burst, initiating the flood. The region has experienced similar events, with a flood last August linked to glacial melt and heavy rain. Rescue operations are facing significant challenges. Helicopters deployed by the Nepalese government are struggling to find safe landing zones due to the high water levels and ongoing flooding. The Army spokesperson noted that rescue helicopters cannot land until the river water levels decrease. China has also reported casualties and missing persons in its border areas, but the full extent of the damage is still being assessed due to communication disruptions.

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Initial investigation results suggest that an earthquake around 8:37 AM caused a large landslide that blocked the river, which appears to be the cause of the flood.