Rescue teams are searching for hundreds of missing people along the Nepal-China border following catastrophic floods and mudslides triggered by a glacier collapse that have swept through several communities. The disaster has left at least 168 people dead and more than 1,300 missing, including foreigners and pilgrims, and displaced hundreds across the Himalayan region.
Drone footage from Nepal on Thursday revealed the scale of the destruction, with videos showing the floodwaters engulfing people attempting to flee, and obliterating buildings and bridges. Steep valleys in the region, which serve as economic lifelines and travel corridors, proved precarious as the torrent surged. Survivors described being caught with little time to escape.
"When I reached Dhunge bazaar, in half an hour, the flood came and damaged all the market. People were preparing to go to the office then," said resident Shoyam Rajbhandari. "How many people are missing or dead, we don’t know."
The Himalayan mountain range, home to many of the world's highest peaks and remaining glaciers, spans several South Asian countries. The region's steep slopes and lush valleys are particularly vulnerable to flooding and landslides, exacerbated by extreme weather events linked to human-caused climate change. Researchers in Kathmandu have found that glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region are melting at an accelerated rate, with ice loss rates doubling since 2000.
Authorities reported at least 165 deaths and 826 people missing in Nepal, and three deaths and 558 missing in Tibet. Dozens of bridges were destroyed and nearly 40 kilometers of roads were damaged in Nepal, complicating search efforts. The Nepalese army has conducted helicopter operations to rescue over 100 people, including at least eight foreign nationals airlifted to Kathmandu. Army teams also evacuated individuals trapped at the Trishuli hydropower project.
Bodies have been found as far as 100 kilometers downstream from the disaster zone. In Tibet, a mudslide near the Gyirong Port border crossing deposited mud more than 1.5 meters deep in surrounding areas, with some road sections exceeding 2 meters. Roads leading to the port were extensively damaged, and further collapses are possible as rain continues. A barrier lake has been discovered near the port, posing additional challenges to rescue operations.
Among the missing are foreign nationals, including Indian pilgrims en route to Mount Kailash. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that at least 34 Australians on pilgrimages and hiking tours were missing. Malaysia's Foreign Ministry reported 55 Malaysians in Kathmandu are unreachable due to severe infrastructure disruptions. New Zealand's foreign ministry indicated that five of its nationals were believed to be in the area with unclear whereabouts.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported an earthquake near the border early Wednesday but later updated its analysis to a magnitude 5.2 glacier collapse, determining the event based on seismic data and satellite imagery. Climate experts believe an avalanche from a glacier likely caused the flash flood, noting an exceptional rise in water levels on the Trishuli river, which increased by as much as 9 meters in half an hour.
This disaster is not an isolated incident in the increasingly unstable Himalayan ice system, which threatens communities, infrastructure, and water supplies. A similar flash flood in August 2025, caused by a glacial lake overflow in Tibet due to high temperatures, killed nine people and damaged critical infrastructure, including a bridge connecting Nepal and China.