On Wednesday, devastating flash floods in a border region between Nepal and Tibet resulted in over 160 fatalities, while numerous tourists — including 24 Canadians — along with local workers and others, remain unaccounted for after the waters ravaged through various communities, disrupting travel in certain areas.
According to Nepalese police, the death toll stands at 162, whereas China’s state media reported at least three deaths and over 558 individuals missing in Gyirong county, Tibet, as of early Thursday.
Of those reported missing, CCTV noted that 260 are foreign nationals.
The Bhotekoshi River overflowed around 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday, leading to the destruction of several villages, roads, and hydropower facilities, as reported by Nepali officials. They have issued alerts to residents in various districts, advising them to avoid the banks of the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli, and Narayani rivers.
Sasmit Pokharel, a representative of the Nepali government, stated, “We have requested assistance from both India and China for our rescue operations.”
Sunil Sharma, acting director of the Nepal Tourism Board’s public relations and publicity division, reported that 403 individuals are missing, which includes 341 foreign nationals and 24 Canadian citizens. This information was later verified by Nepal’s ambassador to Canada.
In a conversation with CBC News, Bharat Raj Paudyal mentioned that while he cannot confirm the specific details regarding the Canadians, the affected region is a favored spot for hikers and is often traveled by pilgrims.
Prime Minister Mark Carney described the flash flood as “absolutely devastating.” He urged all Canadians in the area to register with the ROCA (Registration of Canadians Abroad) system promptly and assured that Canada is prepared to offer assistance.
“Canadians are keeping all those in distress in their thoughts at this time, particularly those who have suffered loss, as well as those awaiting updates,” he added.
Global Affairs Canada acknowledged that there are Canadians impacted by the floods and noted that while consular officials are present in the region, communication may be delayed due to power outages.
For emergency consular assistance in the area, individuals can contact Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre at +1 613-996-8885, via text at +1 613-686-3658, using WhatsApp at +1 613-909-8881, through Signal at +1-613-909-8087, or by email at sos@international.gc.ca
Individuals attempted to escape before the landslide
Security footage from the Chinese side of the Nepal-Tibet border captured many fleeing as a torrent of rock, mud, and water obliterated buildings and vehicles, causing people to vanish from sight.
Sharma mentioned that 133 of the missing individuals are from India and were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a site of spiritual significance for Hindus. Additionally, 47 are from the United States, 34 from Australia, and 33 from the United Kingdom.
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Officials from South Korea and Malaysia stated separately from Sharma that several of their citizens are also unaccounted for.
At least 62 Nepali citizens are among those missing, as they trekked near Gosaikunda lake in Rasuwa, coinciding with the local festival of Janai Purnima, according to Sharma.
Rescue workers are racing to locate survivors following a severe flash flood at the Nepal-Tibet border that has claimed at least 150 lives and left hundreds missing, including 24 Canadians.
According to Nepal police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle, at least 28 police personnel are also among the missing.
Nepal’s steep valleys serve as crucial economic lifelines and travel routes but are also precarious in times of disaster. Images revealed second floors of buildings in the severely impacted Nuwakot district covered in mud after the floodwaters surged through. Debris was seen hanging from tree branches and wires, vehicles were buried, and shocked survivors were coated in mud.
Preliminary reports from Nepali officials suggested that an earthquake in the vicinity may have triggered the collapse of a glacier and incited the floods. However, the U.S. Geological Survey later clarified that the tremor noted at that time was due to the glacial rock and ice giving way to the valley floor.
The Trishuli River roughly runs parallel to a highway north of Kathmandu, which is frequently used to access one of Nepal’s most sought-after trekking destinations in the Langtang region.
Rescue operations are in progress following an earthquake that struck the mountainous Rasuwa district in Nepal. Officials report that approximately 400 tourists and travelers — including individuals from India, the U.K., and Malaysia — are missing while crews are striving to reach villages where homes are submerged in mud.
China and India ready to assist
UN teams and partners are mobilizing resources and personnel in Nepal to aid communities impacted by the catastrophe, as stated by UN Secretary General António Guterres.
Chinese President Xi Jinping instructed authorities to enhance their search efforts for those missing following the mudslide, as reported by state news agency Xinhua. Large-scale rescue operations are being conducted in the Tibetan border region of Gyirong, according to CCTV.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah to extend assistance.
“India is ready to offer Nepal all forms of humanitarian aid. Our teams are coordinating closely regarding rescue and relief operations,” Modi stated in a social media message.
In Nuwakot district, one of the most severely affected areas, numerous multi-storey buildings, trucks, and vans were buried under significant amounts of mud. Officials cautioned residents in multiple districts of Nepal, advising them to stay away from the banks of the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli, and Narayani rivers.
The regions impacted by Wednesday’s calamity previously experienced flash floods similar to those last August, when a glacial lake in Tibet overflowed due to elevated temperatures in the mountainous area. At that time, nine individuals lost their lives, and vital infrastructure, including a bridge connecting Nepal and China, sustained damage.
Climate scientists at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Kathmandu believe that an avalanche from a glacier likely triggered the flash flood on Wednesday.
The Lhende Khola River, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River, experienced the most significant flooding on Wednesday, as reported.
“The Lhende Khola has flooded twice in 14 months, this time set off by an ice rock avalanche from a glacier on the Nepalese side that blocked the river, causing a sudden surge downstream,” explained Saswata Sanyal, a disaster risk reduction expert from the climate research organization.
“In a warming Himalaya, early warning systems serve as the first line of adaptation,” he emphasized.
The Himalayan region, spanning Nepal and several neighboring countries, is particularly susceptible to intense rainfall, floods, and landslides, as it is warming at a rate faster than the global average due to human-induced climate change.
Damaged structures and vehicles are visible in the aftermath of the flash floods along the Trishuli River in Nepal’s Nuwakot district on Wednesday. (Niranjan Shrestha/The Associated Press)
Research indicates that extreme weather occurrences such as heat waves, heavy rainfall, and melting glaciers have become increasingly common in the region.
Researchers from the Kathmandu-based group found earlier this year that glaciers throughout the Hindu Kush Himalaya region are melting at an accelerating pace, with the rate of ice loss doubling since 2000, primarily driven by rising global temperatures and climate change.