Nepal Floods: Hundreds Missing After Glacial Collapse Triggers Deadly Mudslide

Rescue teams in Nepal used helicopters on Thursday to search for hundreds still missing after a massive collapse of mud and rock crashed into a river along the Himalayan border with Tibet, unleashing floods that tore through towns and valleys. At least 162 people have died, with officials warning the toll is likely to climb as search efforts continue. Nepal’s tourism board said 579 tourists remain missing, including more than 400 foreign nationals from countries such as the United States, Australia, Britain, and Canada.

Survivors Describe Terrifying Scenes

Witnesses described walls of mud rising rapidly and sweeping away homes, vehicles, and people with little warning. One survivor recounted losing his wife to the mud as he tried to reach higher ground, while another said he escaped by clinging to a tree as his workplace vanished beneath the debris. Many victims were pilgrims traveling to Kailash Mansarovar, a site considered sacred across several religions.

Cause Traced to Glacial Collapse

Early findings from the U.S. Geological Survey indicate the disaster was triggered by the collapse of glacial rock and ice rather than a traditional earthquake, generating a debris flow that overwhelmed the Lhende River near the Nepal-China border crossing. On the Chinese side, in Tibet’s Gyirong county, hundreds more remain unaccounted for, though officials say the figures from both countries have not yet been fully reconciled.

International Aid Mobilizes

Helicopters have begun delivering tents, food, and emergency supplies to the hardest-hit districts, with support coming from neighboring India. The United States has pledged $500,000 in assistance and is sending a disaster response adviser, while the United Nations said it is coordinating additional aid for affected communities. Leaders from Canada and Australia also expressed concern over their missing citizens, with several other countries reporting nationals unaccounted for as well.