Death toll rises to 362, over 1 000 missing after Nepal-Tibet floods

Rescue teams waded through mud on Thursday searching for more than 1 400 people missing after flash floods and landslides struck the Nepal-Tibet border, as the death toll rose to at least 362.

Entire villages were swept away by a torrent of water, mud and debris that engulfed homes and destroyed bridges, dams and vehicles.

Many of those missing are foreign tourists, including scores of Hindu pilgrims returning from Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash.

Nepali police said 359 bodies had been recovered, while 910 people, including 517 foreign tourists, remained out of contact. Beijing said 100 Chinese citizens were missing in Nepal.

In China, state media reported that three people were killed at Gyirong Port in Tibet, while 558 people, including 260 foreigners, were missing.

The US Geological Survey said the disaster was caused by a glacial collapse that triggered a massive flow of icy debris. The event was initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake.

Emergency teams continued searching affected areas, with Nepali soldiers using sniffer dogs to locate people buried beneath the mud.

Fears of further flooding remain as water accumulates behind debris blocking the valley. Authorities have warned people downstream along the Bhote Koshi River to exercise extreme caution.

Climate change is causing glaciers to melt worldwide, increasing the risks of glacial lake floods and collapses.

(AFP)