Nepal flash floods kill 46, hundreds still missing

The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal’s northern border district of Rasuwa has risen to 46, according to officials cited by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

The floods struck parts of Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region on Wednesday morning, leaving hundreds of people buried under mud and floodwater. Around 500 people are still missing, including up to 105 Indians. Nationals of several other countries are also reportedly missing.

The Bhotekoshi River area has suffered the heaviest damage, with people and infrastructure along its banks badly affected, according to NDTV.

Rizan Bhakta, a professor at Kathmandu University and climate researcher, said preliminary findings suggest a glacier collapse blocked the flow of the Lende River, causing water to accumulate.

Around 9am, as the floodwaters suddenly surged into Nepal, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck Tibet. Researchers believe the tremor may have destabilised the ice, releasing the trapped water into the Bhotekoshi River.

Bhakta told Kantipur TV that Chinese scientists had initially provided them with the information.

“Reports indicate a glacier collapse blocked the Lende River. An earthquake also occurred in Tibet at the time,” he said.

Source: PTI

sks