160 killed, hundreds missing, as flash flood hits Nepal and Tibet
At least 157 people have been killed and hundreds are missing after a massive flash flood swept away villages in Nepal and damaged roads, bridges and power projects near Tibet.
Nepali police said Wednesday they recovered 157 bodies and were evacuating people from risk areas. At least 384 tourists, including 291 from the UK, US, India and Malaysia, were reported missing. Police spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle said 28 police personnel were also missing.
Across the border in Tibet’s Gyirong county, at least three people died and 265 remained missing. Xinhua said a mudslide hit Gyirong port, cutting roads, communications and power in Shigatse. Casualty figures were still being verified. President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out” search efforts and stronger monitoring and early warnings.
At least 19 bridges and 40 kilometers of roads were swept away, 13 hydroelectric projects were damaged and more than 200 trucks were swept away. About 430 megawatts of electricity generation, including hydropower and solar capacity, was damaged.
Helicopters could not land in Syapru Besi and Timure, in Rasuwa district, home to about 50,000 people. Officials urged Bhote Koshi River residents to seek higher ground. Nepal requested rescue assistance from India and China.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah urged national unity and held an emergency disaster authority meeting. The Nepal Army deployed helicopters and response teams.
Eight South Koreans at a hydropower plant were missing and 10 were stranded. South Korea formed a task force and plans to send a rapid-response team. India’s Bihar state began evacuations in six districts over fears flooding would spread.
Videos showed muddy torrents rushing through mountain valleys. Local editor Kosh Raj Koirala said many were caught off guard because there was no heavy rainfall. Climate activist Prayash Adhikari said entire villages had been wiped out.
The USGS said the magnitude 5.2 seismic event detected northwest of Kodari, Nepal, was caused by a landslide, not an earthquake.
