A Nepal flash flood killed at least 95 people in Rasuwa near the Tibetan border on Wednesday, August 26, with 484 people missing. Nepalese authorities say 341 of those missing are foreigners, including two Spanish citizens, as search and rescue operations continue. The district is used by international pilgrims travelling overland towards Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet.
Nepal flash flood cuts roads and bridges in three towns
The surge hit Timure, Rasuwagadhi and Syabrubesi, damaging settlements, markets, roads, bridges and hydroelectric facilities.
The water reached the Bhote Koshi River from the Tibetan side at about 9:15am local time. Damage to transport infrastructure has disrupted overland travel through the border area between Nepal and China.
Nepal has deployed the army, police, Armed Police Force and emergency services to search for missing people and evacuate areas facing the greatest danger. Security personnel are also among those unaccounted for.
Across the border, an initial tally for Gyirong County in Tibet recorded at least three deaths and 265 missing people.
Authorities identify missing travellers from 17 countries
The available nationality breakdown identifies 334 of the 341 missing foreign nationals, while another 143 missing people are Nepalese.
| Nationality | Missing |
|---|---|
| Indian | 133 |
| US | 47 |
| Australian | 34 |
| British | 33 |
| Canadian | 24 |
| Malaysian | 19 |
| Ukrainian | 7 |
| Singaporean | 6 |
| South African | 6 |
| Japanese | 5 |
| New Zealander | 5 |
| German | 4 |
| French | 3 |
| Irish | 2 |
| Dutch | 2 |
| Russian | 2 |
| Spanish | 2 |
Most of the foreign visitors were in Rasuwa for a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. Both sites are in Tibet and are sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Rasuwa provides one of the crossings used by travellers heading from Nepal into China for these journeys.
Earthquake-linked landslide is under investigation
Officials have not established the cause, although Nepalese Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has outlined a preliminary earthquake-related theory.
Khanal said a tremor may have triggered a large landslide that blocked the Bhote Koshi before the trapped water was suddenly released. The explanation remains unconfirmed.
The US Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 4.4 earthquake overnight in the Tibetan area near Nepal. It placed the earthquake about 6.2 miles (10 kilometres) deep, with its epicentre roughly 48 miles (77 kilometres) north-northwest of the Nepalese town of Kodari.
What travellers should do now
Travellers planning to use the Rasuwa border corridor should confirm road and bridge conditions before departure and postpone entering damaged areas while rescue work continues.
Pilgrims and tour groups heading towards Mount Kailash or Lake Mansarovar should contact their operator for updated arrangements. Anyone trying to locate a traveller should provide itinerary and identity details to the relevant emergency authorities or consular service.
No timetable has been announced for restoring the affected roads and crossings. Travellers should wait for confirmed local access information before resuming an overland journey through the district.
