Officials in Nepal and China reported on Friday that the death toll from a flash flood in the Himalayan border region has exceeded 470, with rescue efforts continuing amid concerns over a newly formed barrier lake. The flood, which began on Wednesday following a glacier collapse, has left more than 1,500 people missing, according to government statements from both nations.
Nepal’s prime minister’s office confirmed 469 fatalities and 977 missing individuals within its territory. The office specified that 644 of those missing are foreign nationals. In China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, authorities reported at least three people were killed and 558 remain unaccounted for. Across the affected areas, approximately 1,550 people have been rescued.
The flood began when a glacier collapse sent a flow of ice, water, rock, and mud through river valleys, damaging infrastructure including roads, bridges, and hydropower facilities. Bishal Nath Upreti, president of the Nepal Centre for Disaster Management, stated that approximately 42 kilometers (26 miles) of road had been destroyed. He said the damage was hindering ground access for rescue teams, who are relying on helicopters to reach stranded individuals and deliver aid.
Concurrent with the rescue operations, authorities are monitoring a barrier lake that formed along the Nepal-China border after debris blocked a river. Chinese authorities reported the lake contained about two million cubic meters of water and was projected to accumulate an additional three million cubic meters over the next three days. Officials in both countries have issued statements about the lake’s potential instability.
As a precaution against further mudslides, rescue teams were ordered to pause work near the border port of Gyirong in Tibet, where reports indicate buildings are covered in mud.
Both countries have mobilized personnel for the response. Nepal deployed 30,000 security personnel for search and rescue operations. China dispatched 500 military and paramilitary personnel, and Premier Li Qiang was sent to the region to supervise the Chinese response.
On Friday, Nepal’s foreign ministry addressed international offers of assistance. “The offer for help is natural. Our security agencies are doing the search and rescue operation. For now we don’t require such help,” said spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri. He noted that while direct search assistance was not needed at this time, the government may consider other forms of aid.
