Nepal flood death toll rises to 160; 9 South Koreans missing

The death toll from a devastating flash flood in the Himalayas, near the Nepal-China border, has climbed to at least 160, with 403 people reported missing. Among the missing are 341 foreign nationals, including nine South Korean workers involved in a hydroelectric power plant construction project.

Nepalese authorities have recovered 157 bodies, bringing the total confirmed fatalities to 160, according to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. The Nepal Tourism Board stated that the missing individuals include group tourists. Indian nationals account for the largest number of foreign missing persons, with 133, followed by 47 from the United States and 33 from the United Kingdom.

Initially, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) suggested an earthquake might have triggered the landslide and subsequent flood. However, further analysis indicates that a glacial collapse, not an earthquake, was the cause. The USGS reported seismic wave events consistent with a glacial collapse and debris flow, which then caused catastrophic downstream effects.

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We judge that the event was caused by a glacial collapse and debris flow, which then caused a chain of catastrophic impacts downstream.

Experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) believe an ice and rock avalanche from a glacier in Nepal blocked the river. The subsequent failure of this natural dam released a torrent of water, causing the devastating flood. This event is likely linked to the melting of Himalayan glaciers due to global warming, leading to large-scale avalanches.

Nine South Korean employees from Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility, working on a hydroelectric plant, have lost contact, and 10 others from Doosan Enerbility are stranded at the site. South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established an emergency response headquarters and plans to dispatch a joint government rapid response team to assist in search and rescue operations for its citizens.

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It appears that an ice-rock avalanche from a glacier in Nepal blocked the river, and then burst, causing water to pour downstream.