Flood disaster in Nebal! Heavy toll, hundreds missing

An abrupt flood that followed the detachment of ice and rock from a glacier in Nepal caused massive destruction in the settlements of the Himalayas. The massive flood wave carried by the raging Bhotekoshi River swept away villages, roads, and infrastructure, and many people went missing.

Officials announced that at least 22 people had lost their lives, according to initial estimates. While search and rescue teams continued their work, it was noted that more bodies could be recovered from under the debris.

Unable to Reach Hundreds of People

It was announced that 384 tourists were reported missing after the disaster. Among the missing were citizens of India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia, and it was noted that no news had been received from a total of 291 foreign tourists.

The Nepal government announced that search and rescue operations were continuing to clarify the scale of the disaster. Government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel said that support had also been requested from India and China as part of the efforts.

The Massive Flood Wave Broke the Border Gate

In footage of the disaster moments, the floodwaters moving at great speed down the valley were seen to have swept away structures in their path. A crossing point on the China‑Nepal border also suffered heavy damage from the floodwaters.

With the Bhotekoshi River overflowing, many villages were submerged under water and mud. As bridges collapsed, roads became unusable, and hydroelectric facilities also suffered damage from the flood.

The situation was reported as severe especially in the Nuwakot region. It was conveyed that multi‑storey buildings, vehicles and other large objects were buried under tons of mud.

The river's overflow caused major devastation.

According to local officials, the Bhotekoshi River overflowed at about 09:00 on Wednesday morning. The overflowing waters reached nearby settlements in a short time, causing widespread destruction over a large area.

Nepal authorities warned residents living along the banks of the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli, and Narayani rivers to exercise caution and stay away from riverbeds amid the new flood risk.

The cause of the disaster is being investigated.

It is still unclear exactly what triggered the sudden flood. According to data from the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a 4.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in the region about seven minutes before the event.

Experts examining the area, however, are focusing on the possibility that a glacial slide around the Lhende Khola River on the Nepal side may have triggered the flood.

Officials are continuing their work to determine the cause of the incident and locate missing persons. Security measures have also been increased to guard against a second flood in the region's rivers.