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Nepal police confirm 389 dead in Nepal-Tibet floods
BBC News··28 Aug
Nepal police say at least 389 people have died after a glacial collapse triggered flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border. Nepal's disaster authority reported 910 people still missing, including 517 foreigners. China's CCTV said 558 people were missing on the Tibetan side, where three deaths have been confirmed. The US Geological Survey said the disaster registered a magnitude of 5.2.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Travellers and pilgrims with trips planned near Kathmandu or the Nepal-Tibet border should expect continued search operations and possible route closures.
- The Nepal Tourism Board says 644 tourists remain missing, including 33 UK nationals, so families awaiting word should watch official Nepali and Chinese updates.
- A secondary flood risk remains if debris has blocked the Trishuli River, which could affect downstream towns without further warning.
What's Happening
- The US Geological Survey said the disaster was caused by a glacial collapse rather than an earthquake, with debris flow triggering catastrophic downstream impacts.
- Scientists including Simon Cook of the University of Dundee linked the collapse to a glacier near Langtang Lirung peak, about 15km from the flood site.
- The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development is assessing whether the Trishuli River has been blocked, warning of a possible second flooding event.
Reading the Death Toll
- Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority listed 910 missing as of Thursday evening, while China's CCTV separately reported 558 missing in Tibet's Gyirong county.
- Of the confirmed Nepal deaths, 64 bodies were found in Chitwan district and 26 in Nawalparasi East.
- Climate change is known to accelerate glacier melt in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, a factor scientists are still assessing in this event.
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