Nearly 100 Dead, Hundreds Missing in Nepal Flood

A deadly flash flood near Nepal’s border with Tibet on Wednesday may have been triggered when the lower part of a glacier broke off and crashed onto the valley floor, sending water, sediment and boulders through river systems downstream.

Nearly 100 bodies have been recovered, while more than 300 travelers remain missing, according to Nepalese authorities. Officials fear the eventual death toll could be significantly higher.

Satellite imagery reviewed by experts indicates that part of the glacier collapsed from an altitude of about 5,200 m and fell roughly 1,200 m to the valley floor, triggering an ice-rock avalanche. Nepalese officials have suggested that an earthquake in the region minutes earlier may have caused the collapse, although geologists said the connection had not been established.

Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said the flood originated in the Lhende River about 20 km from a Nepal-China border crossing. The resulting surge swept water, sediment and boulders through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems.

Farther downstream, water levels reportedly rose by as much as 9 m within 30 minutes. In the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, authorities preemptively evacuated thousands of residents due to the threat of flooding.

Rescue operations on both sides of the border are taking place under extremely difficult conditions. The area is without power, and communications have been cut off. Nepalese rescue helicopters were unable to land in many places because the swollen river is flowing well above its normal level.

The Chinese side has deployed drones to assess the damage and is preparing transport planes and other equipment, as several road connections to the border crossing have been completely destroyed.

(Reuters, max)