Four South Africans are among hundreds of people reported missing after catastrophic flash floods swept through northern Nepal near the border with Tibet, killing at least 31 people and destroying homes, roads, bridges and power infrastructure.
The disaster struck on Wednesday in the Rasuwa district after a sudden surge of water swept through communities along the Bhote Koshi River. The Nepal Tourism Board said 384 travellers had been reported missing, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali citizens. The figures remain preliminary, and authorities are still working to verify the whereabouts of those listed.
The missing foreign nationals include four South Africans, 105 Indians, 37 non-resident Indians, 17 Malaysians, 12 British citizens, three Americans, as well as nationals from Australia and the Netherlands.
The scale of the disaster has prompted a major search and rescue operation involving Nepalese security forces, helicopters and emergency teams. Rescue efforts have been complicated by damaged roads and bridges, heavy sediment and dangerous water levels in the affected areas.
Reuters reported that the flooding swept away villages, houses, roads and hydroelectric infrastructure on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border. The destruction also affected the Gyirong border area in Tibet, where Chinese authorities reported severe damage and missing people.
The cause of the sudden flooding was still being investigated. Reuters reported that the disaster was believed to have been linked to an earthquake that triggered an ice and rock avalanche into a river. Other international reports have also pointed to an avalanche or landslide as a possible trigger, although authorities were still assessing the precise sequence of events.
The flash floods struck at about 8.30 am local time, sending a powerful torrent of muddy water and debris through the mountainous region. Footage released by Nepalese authorities showed floodwaters surging through communities, destroying bridges and sweeping away structures.
The Rasuwa region is a popular route for tourists and pilgrims travelling towards Tibet, including people making journeys to Mount Kailash. The large number of travellers in the area has contributed to the high number of people reported missing.
International media reported varying death tolls as rescue teams continued recovering bodies and authorities assessed the destruction. Earlier reports put the death toll at nine and later at 22, while subsequent updates placed it at 31. The figure is expected to change as rescue operations continue.
Nepalese authorities have warned people in affected areas to move to safer ground and avoid rivers because of the possibility of further flooding. International media reported that authorities were concerned about another surge because debris remained lodged upstream.
The disaster has left families across several countries waiting for information about relatives who were travelling through the region.
For South African families, the confirmation that four citizens are among those listed as missing has added an international dimension to an already devastating humanitarian crisis.
Authorities continue to work with travel companies, local officials and security agencies to verify the missing persons list and establish who has survived, who has been rescued and who remains unaccounted for.
*Developing story
