A deadly flood with mudflows in Nepal has claimed the lives of at least 19 people, and the country’s authorities cannot locate 384 tourists, most of whom are foreigners.
Among the missing tourists are 291 foreigners and 93 Nepali citizens. According to local authorities, the muddy water flows on Wednesday claimed at least eight lives in Nepal.
Chinese state media reported “numerous casualties” on the Chinese side of the border, in Tibet, as a result of the flood that occurred early Wednesday morning. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the mobilization of all means to rescue the victims and minimise human losses after the tragedy that occurred around 10:30 a.m. (02:30 GMT) at the Gyirong border checkpoint.
Rescue operations and threat of new flooding
The Nepali army has deployed significant resources, including several helicopters, and reported the rescue of at least 21 people. Local official Kaphle told AFP that “the floods are large‑scale and likely affected many populated areas,” adding that damage assessment is ongoing.
Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah reported on social media about convening an emergency meeting of the National Emergency Management Agency. According to Qiangong Zhang, a scientist from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, the flood “was caused by an ice avalanche that fell into the Lhende River, but its exact cause still needs confirmation.”
The blockage caused by the avalanche in the river remains in place, so “a second flood may occur,” warned Qiangong Zhang. The Gyirong checkpoint, located in the Himalayas, is an important land crossing point between China and Nepal. This area regularly suffers from landslides and floods during the summer rainy season.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, quoted by state media, said that “the top priority is to deploy all resources to search for and rescue the missing, evacuate and relocate residents from dangerous areas, provide timely treatment for the injured, and minimise human losses.”
Source: Le Figaro
