More than 150 people have been killed and hundreds of others, including foreign tourists, remain missing after a massive flash flood and landslide struck Nepal’s mountainous Rasuwa district near the Tibet border.
According to figures from Nepal’s tourism authorities, more than 100 Indian tourists, 54 Americans and 33 Britons are among those reported missing. More than 100 Nepali nationals are also unaccounted for.
The disaster has also left dozens of police officers, army personnel and power workers missing, as search and rescue operations continue in the affected areas.
In neighbouring Tibet, Chinese state media reported three deaths and 265 people missing after a similar deluge. Footage broadcast by CCTV showed a huge wall of water and mud sweeping into buildings at a border crossing.
Initial reports from Nepal suggested that an earthquake could have triggered an ice avalanche and landslide that led to the flooding. Nepal’s foreign minister had earlier told parliament that preliminary information indicated that an earthquake struck the area before triggering the landslide and flash flood.
However, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has since said further analysis found no evidence that an earthquake caused the disaster.
“This event was initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake,” the USGS said, adding that analysis of long-period seismic waves indicated that “the seismic energy was instead generated by a landslide.”
There had also been speculation that the collapse of a glacial lake may have caused the flooding, although some glaciologists have ruled out that possibility. Experts say the exact cause may only become clear after high-resolution satellite imagery is obtained and independently verified.
Nepalese authorities have intensified search and rescue efforts, deploying a canine team and four drones to locate survivors and missing persons.
Police said 28 officers in Rasuwa remain missing, adding that efforts to locate them and other victims would continue.
Authorities have urged residents and visitors to stay away from river and stream banks, flood-affected areas and other high-risk locations, while following safety instructions issued by the government and security agencies.
The United States has also moved to assist its citizens affected by the disaster. A US State Department spokesperson said the safety and security of Americans remained the Trump administration’s highest priority.
The spokesperson said the US embassy was working closely with local tour operators and authorities to assist American citizens in the affected areas.
At least 54 US tourists are among those reported missing, according to figures from Nepal’s tourism authorities confirmed by police.
The British government has similarly pledged support for its nationals caught up in the disaster.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the scenes as “devastating” and said his thoughts were with all those affected, particularly the families and loved ones of British nationals still missing.
“We will do everything we can to support British nationals impacted in the region and are in touch with the relevant authorities to offer support,” Burnham said.
He urged British nationals in the region to follow instructions from local authorities and the latest travel advice issued by the British government.
The disaster has raised renewed concerns about the vulnerability of Nepal’s mountainous communities and popular trekking and pilgrimage routes to sudden flooding and landslides.
Rescue teams are continuing to search for survivors and missing persons as authorities work to establish the full scale and precise cause of the catastrophe.
