Nepal-Tibet Border Floods Kill at Least 98, With More Feared Dead

Massive floods and landslides have ravaged the border region between Nepal and China's Tibet, claiming at least 98 lives and causing widespread destruction. Authorities on both sides anticipate the final casualty count will be significantly higher as rescue efforts continue amidst fears of further disaster.

The torrential waters swept away roads, bridges, homes, and crucial power infrastructure. A significant landslide hit Gyirong Port, a vital land crossing with Tibet, severing all links for communication and power. The suspected cause of the calamity is the collapse of the lower part of a glacier on the Lhende Khola river in Nepal, possibly triggered by an earthquake.

Amidst the devastation, hundreds of travelers remain unaccounted for. Reports indicate at least 484 individuals are missing, including significant numbers of Indian and Nepali citizens, along with travelers from the US, UK, South Korea, Malaysia, South Africa, Australia, and the Netherlands. Eight South Koreans working on a hydropower plant are among those missing.

Adding to the concern, authorities have issued flood alerts for Indian states bordering Nepal, such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This warning stems from the potential for a second flood, as a blockage persists upstream on the Lhende Khola river. Rescue operations are underway, but challenging terrain and flood sediment are hindering efforts, with helicopters unable to land in some areas until waters recede.