The death toll from a recent flash flood disaster in the Nepal-Tibet border region has surpassed 900 people, with more than 4,700 individuals reported missing as of Monday, according to officials from Nepal and China.
Nepal's National Disaster Management Authority reported that at least 903 bodies had been recovered in Nepal, with 4,247 people still listed as missing. On the Tibetan side of the border, Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency stated that at least 16 people were confirmed dead and 546 remained missing.
The U.S. State Department reported on Sunday that at least 85 Americans were among those missing, with nine Americans having been evacuated. A State Department spokesperson emphasized the priority on the safety and security of American citizens, acknowledging the difficulty in obtaining reliable information due to the remoteness of the affected area.
The State Department has activated $3.6 million in emergency humanitarian assistance, which includes up to three months of food supplies for as many as 10,000 flood-affected households.
The flooding occurred around 8:40 a.m. local time on Wednesday in the northern Rasuwa district, near the border with Tibet. The disaster inundated areas along the Trishuli River, destroying buildings and damaging transportation infrastructure.
An analysis of verified video and satellite images indicates that the torrent of ice, water, and debris traveled at least 62 miles downriver into Nepal. Nepali officials stated that the flood was triggered by a landslide approximately 12 miles northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border post.
The U.S. Geological Survey registered a 5.2-magnitude landslide in Nepal on Wednesday. The initial source of the glacier was a cliff at an altitude of about 16,000 feet, with the resulting debris avalanche descending 6,000 feet down the slope.
The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu issued a warning on Monday advising Americans against all travel to the affected region. The advisory cited flood damage, disrupted transportation and communications, ongoing search-and-rescue operations, and the potential for further flooding and landslides.
The embassy also urged American citizens to exercise increased caution in Nepal due to civil unrest in some areas.