Nepal and China report hundreds dead in Himalayan floods

Catastrophic flooding and landslides in the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China have resulted in at least 579 confirmed deaths in Nepal and five deaths in the Tibetan region of China. As of Friday, authorities reported 1,924 people missing in Nepal and 558 missing on the Chinese side.

The disaster was triggered on Wednesday in the Bhote Koshi River region by the collapse of a glacier and rock cornice, which sent an avalanche of ice, water, and debris through mountain valleys. The surge destroyed homes, vehicles, bridges, and critical infrastructure, isolating several communities and complicating rescue efforts.

Rescue operations face ongoing threats from secondary flooding. Debris from the initial avalanche has created natural dams, including one holding over 2.5 million cubic meters of water. The risk of these lakes bursting has forced emergency teams to temporarily retreat and has prompted warnings for residents to move to higher ground. More than 3,000 people have been evacuated by helicopter to safer areas such as Kathmandu.