Avalanche-triggered flash floods kill at least eight in Nepal, dozens of tourists missing

An ice and rock avalanche on Wednesday caused the Bhotekoshi River to burst its banks around 9 a.m. local time, flooding villages, roads and hydropower projects in Nepal's central region. At least eight people were confirmed dead and hundreds remain missing, including 384 tourists from countries such as India, the United States, the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

"We have asked both India and China to help us with the rescue efforts," said Sasmit Pokharel, a spokesperson for the Nepali government.

Dozens of multi-storey buildings, trucks and vans were buried under mud in the district of Nuwakot, one of the hardest-hit areas. Authorities warned residents to stay away from the banks of the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers.

The Nepal tourism board indicated that many of the missing are likely Indian pilgrims traveling to Mount Kailash in Tibet. South Korean officials reported that some of their citizens working on a hydropower project are among the missing, and Malaysia’s foreign ministry said travel agencies have lost contact with 11 Malaysians believed to be in the Rasuwa district.

Climate experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development said the flash flood was likely triggered by an avalanche from a glacier that blocked the Lhende Khola tributary, releasing a sudden surge downstream. Disaster risk reduction specialist Saswata Sanyal noted that the Lhende Khola has flooded twice in fourteen months, this time due to the glacier-related avalanche.

Researchers highlighted that the Himalaya is warming faster than the global average, increasing the frequency of extreme weather, glacial melt and related hazards. Recent studies show glacier ice loss in the Hindu Kush Himalaya has accelerated since 2000, driven by rising temperatures.