Nepal-Tibet flood death toll reaches 546, over 2,000 missing

Flash floods and landslides have devastated parts of the Nepal-Tibet border region, killing at least 546 people and leaving more than 2,000 missing. Authorities launched a massive search-and-rescue operation following the disaster, which struck Nepal's northern Rasuwa district on Wednesday morning.

The deluge sent a massive wall of water and debris down the Trishuli River, destroying buildings, bridges, and roads on both the Nepalese and Chinese sides of the frontier. In Nepal, authorities have recovered hundreds of bodies, with close to 2,000 people still unaccounted for, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. Approximately 4,451 people have been rescued or injured, including 129 foreign nationals.

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At least 546 people have been killed and more than 2,000 remain missing following devastating flash floods and landslides that swept through parts of the Nepal-Tibet border region, triggering a massive search-and-rescue operation, authorities said yesterday.

Across the border in Tibet, Chinese state media reported three confirmed deaths and 558 missing individuals. The number of missing has fluctuated as rescue teams access previously cut-off areas. Among those still unaccounted for are 90 Americans, according to the U.S. State Department. The flooding began around 8:40 a.m. local time Wednesday, inundating communities and sweeping away structures.

Analysis of video and satellite imagery shows destruction extending at least 62 miles downstream from the border. Nepalese disaster authorities stated the flooding was likely triggered by a massive landslide about 12 miles northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border post. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded seismic activity associated with the landslide at magnitude 5.2, initially mistaking it for an earthquake. Scientists are investigating the cause of the slope failure, with one geophysicist suggesting a large glacier may have been dislodged.

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Among those still unaccounted for are 90 Americans, according to a US State Department spokesperson.