Massive flash floods swept through a border area of Nepal and Tibet, resulting in the tragic deaths of over 160 individuals, with hundreds more missing. Among the missing were 24 Canadians, part of a total of 260 foreign nationals affected by the disaster. The floods, triggered by the Bhotekoshi River flooding early Wednesday morning, caused widespread destruction to villages, roads, and hydropower projects in Nepal.
Nepali authorities issued warnings to residents in various districts and urged them to stay away from the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli, and Narayani rivers. The Nepali government sought assistance from India and China for rescue operations.
Tourism officials reported 403 individuals missing, including 341 foreign nationals, with confirmation of 24 Canadians among them. The affected area is popular among hikers and pilgrims. Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed deep concern over the situation, urging Canadians in the region to register with the ROCA system for support.
Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the Canadian impact of the floods, noting challenges in communication due to power outages. Efforts were underway to locate missing individuals, including citizens from India, the U.S., Australia, the UK, South Korea, and Malaysia.
Security footage captured people fleeing before the floods hit, with many missing individuals en route to Mount Kailash in Tibet. The devastation left dozens of buildings and vehicles buried under mud in the Nuwakot district. Initial reports suggested a glacial collapse triggered the disaster, with the region prone to such events due to climate change.
Efforts from the United Nations, China, and India aimed to support affected communities. President Xi Jinping ordered intensified search and rescue operations, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered humanitarian aid to Nepal. The disaster highlighted the vulnerability of the Himalayan region to extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change on glacial melting and flooding.