Severe Floods Hit Tibet and Nepal
Torrential rains and swollen rivers unleashed devastating floods and landslides across Tibet and Nepal on Wednesday, leading to the destruction of villages and vital infrastructure like roads and bridges.
As of Wednesday, the reported death toll was 95, with hundreds more unaccounted for, including approximately 341 foreign nationals.
Chinese state media indicated that flash floods initiated around 9:00 a.m. local time in a border region of Nepal, quickly flowing into Gyirong county in Tibet. Eyewitnesses reported the disaster beginning at a border checkpoint, which vanished in mere seconds.
Nepalese officials have confirmed 72 deaths so far, along with hundreds of missing persons that include tourists, workers, and police. Among those unaccounted for are 341 foreigners hailing from 26 countries, such as the United States, United Kingdom, India, Australia, and the Netherlands.
The border area between Nepal and Tibet is a favored spot for tourists, especially hikers, mountain climbers, and religious pilgrims from both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The checkpoint that was devastated by the floods served as a key access point for many who travel from Nepal to the sacred Mount Kailash in Tibet.
Tourism officials in Nepal noted that many of those missing were on buses when landslides struck, obliterating roads and sweeping away bridges. The debris from destroyed bridges was carried along by massive floodwaters, causing further havoc by hitting other bridges downstream.
The flooding extended all the way to Gyirong Port, a crucial trade gateway in Tibet and a significant link in China’s trade route to Nepal. Chinese state media reported “major casualties and missing persons” in this port city.
In response to the disasters, Chinese leader Xi Jinping instructed local officials to fully engage in search and rescue efforts and deployed paramilitary units to aid in relief operations.
The Chinese embassy in Nepal has initiated its emergency response protocols and requested that Nepal receive help with the rescue missions. Additionally, Nepalese officials have reached out to neighboring India for assistance.
Dozens of homes have been lost due to the flooding, complicating rescue operations further, especially with the widespread damage to roads and bridges. Power and communications infrastructure took a severe hit as well.
Nepal’s energy ministry reported that more than 12 percent of the country’s hydropower capacity was offline on Wednesday morning. South Korea’s foreign ministry also mentioned that eight South Koreans, who were working at a hydropower facility in Nepal, were missing, prompting South Korea to send a rapid response team to assist.
Air operations faced interruptions as well; officials stated that high river levels made it impossible for helicopters to land in the affected regions. Notably, some of the most severe flooding occurred near the Bhote Koshi river, which had already experienced significant flooding last year that resulted in nine fatalities and the loss of an important “friendship bridge” along the China-Nepal trade route.
