At least 95 people have died and hundreds remain missing after devastating flash floods struck Nepal’s northern Rasuwa district near the Tibet border, with 291 foreign tourists initially reported among those unaccounted for, according to authorities.


The disaster swept through the Bhote Koshi/Lhende river area, destroying buildings, vehicles and bridges and cutting off communities from road and communication networks.


Nepal’s Tourism Board initially reported 384 people missing, including 291 foreign nationals. However, government officials later revised the figure, reporting 403 people unaccounted for, including 341 foreign nationals, as authorities continued efforts to verify reports and establish contact with travellers.


Among those reported missing are tourists from India, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, South Africa, the United States, Australia, the Netherlands and Italy.


Rescue operations intensify


Nepalese security forces, rescue teams and military personnel have been deployed to the affected region to search for survivors and reach communities cut off by the floods.


The scale of the destruction has complicated rescue efforts, with roads and bridges damaged and communications disrupted across parts of the mountainous region.


The disaster has also affected areas across the border in Tibet. Chinese state media reported three deaths and 265 people missing following a mudslide in Gyirong County, although authorities said the figures were still being verified.


Cause of the disaster under investigation


Authorities have yet to establish the precise cause of the flash floods.


Nepalese officials have suggested that an earthquake may have triggered an avalanche, while satellite imagery reviewed by experts indicated that a large section of a glacier may have collapsed, potentially sending huge volumes of water, ice and debris downstream.


The incident highlights the growing risks faced by communities and travellers in the Himalayan region, where steep terrain, glacial activity and increasingly unpredictable weather can contribute to sudden and destructive floods.


Rescue operations remain ongoing, while authorities continue to verify the number of dead and missing.


The casualty and missing-person figures are expected to change as search-and-rescue teams reach more affected areas and authorities establish contact with those who remain unaccounted for.