Authorities in Nepal said a major flash flood swept away several villages, killing at least 8 people and damaging roads, bridges, and power projects in areas near Tibet. The rising waters prevented helicopters from landing in the affected areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous Rasuwa district, which has a population of about 50,000.
Narendra Pariyar, a district administrative official, said the number of deaths and property damage could be severe, and urged residents living along the Bhote Koshi River to move to higher ground after reports of villages and infrastructure project sites being swept away.
On the other side of the border, Tibet also reported major casualties, with many people missing in Gyirong county after a mudslide hit the border crossing between China and Nepal. The Xinhua news agency reported that the mudslide cut off roads, communications, and electricity in the Shigatse area. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all-out efforts to search for the missing and to strengthen monitoring and early warning systems to prevent secondary disasters.
In Nepal, Prime Minister Balendra Shah convened an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority to assess the situation. On social media, he said coordinated measures with medical teams, scouts, and the Red Cross had been deployed. The Nepalese Army dispatched helicopters and disaster rescue personnel to the affected areas.
Nepal's electricity authority said about 430 megawatts of generation capacity, including from hydropower and solar plants, was damaged by the floods, affecting power generation, transmission, and distribution. Several highways have also been closed.
The Bhote Koshi River originates in Tibet and flows into Nepal's Trishuli River, then into India's Gandak River. Last year, a flood on this river killed 9 people, left 24 missing, and swept away the Friendship Bridge connecting Nepal and China, disrupting transport and trade for months. That flood was believed to be caused by the release of water from a high-altitude glacial lake in Tibet.
Monsoon rains from June to September annually cause deadly floods and landslides in South Asia. Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region.
