What we know about the Bhotekoshi flood so far

A powerful flash flood surged through Nepal's Bhotekoshi river on Wednesday, decimating riverside settlements and leaving at least 22 people dead. Dozens more remain missing, with 384 people unaccounted for, including 291 foreign nationals and 32 security personnel.

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Entire settlements have been decimated, while banks, bridges, and markets have incurred major damages.

The districts of Rasuwa and Nuwakot bore the brunt of the disaster. "Entire settlements have been decimated, while banks, bridges, and markets have incurred major damages," stated Krishna Prasad Humagain, Nuwakot’s assistant chief district officer. The flood swept away numerous concrete bridges, marking an unprecedented level of destruction.

Search and rescue teams face significant challenges due to inclement weather and communication outages, local authorities reported. The flood's impact extended to the 20-megawatt Langtang Khola Hydropower Project, where 60 employees are out of contact. Twenty-five engineers, drivers, and kitchen staff, along with 35 workers inside a tunnel, have been missing since Wednesday morning. The project was nearing completion and scheduled for testing in two days.

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There has never been this much damage in history.

Fifteen employees at the Rasuwa Customs Office in Timure are also among the missing. The Nepali Army has rescued 88 individuals, with 13 hospitalized in Kathmandu and others moved to safety. Twelve helicopters, including military and private aircraft, have been deployed for rescue efforts, though flights have been repeatedly disrupted by poor weather. Home Minister Sudan Gurung and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj Paudel are coordinating relief operations from Kathmandu.

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We have not been able to contact them so far.