Authorities report that over 390 bodies have been recovered and more than 1,500 people remain missing across Nepal and China’s Tibet region following a catastrophic landslide of mud and rock into a Himalayan river.
In Nepal, rescue crews continues to dig through thick mud on Thursday in search of the missing as the domestic death toll reached at least 389.
Across the border in neighboring Tibet, at least three fatalities have been confirmed.
Following the tragedy, Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived at the mudslide site in Tibet on Thursday afternoon to oversee and guide emergency rescue and relief operations, according to state media reports.
Data released on Thursday by Nepal’s Department of Tourism indicates that 668 tourists from 34 countries—primarily on trekking expeditions—have been out of contact since Wednesday morning.
The unaccounted-for foreign visitors include at least 177 from India, 90 from the United States, 34 from Australia, 33 from the United Kingdom, and 25 from Canada. Furthermore, Beijing’s foreign ministry reported that 100 Chinese nationals are currently missing within Nepal.
Meanwhile, across the border in Tibet’s Gyirong county, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that 558 people remain missing, including 260 foreign nationals.
Reporting from Kathmandu, Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez noted that search and rescue operations face immense challenges, as severe damage to roads and bridges makes accessing affected areas to locate survivors extraordinarily difficult.
Backstory…
A major surge of water, rock, and mud triggered Himalayan floods along the Nepal-China border on Wednesday, August 26, following a massive landslide and glacier collapse.
The U.S. Geological Survey later clarified that seismic activity initially attributed to an earthquake was actually generated by the rapid collapse of glacial rock and ice.
The resulting torrent of debris swept through nearby valleys, destroying homes, roads, and bridges while severely damaging regional hydropower infrastructure.
While homes, roads and power infrastructure suffered extensive damage downstream in Nepal, news agencies confirmed video footage from Wednesday showing fast-moving torrents of water and debris sweeping dozens of people away at a border crossing in Gyirong.
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