A glacier collapse in Tibet caused catastrophic flash flooding Wednesday in a border area of China and Nepal. Authorities in both countries have reported more than 160 deaths and over 1,300 people missing as of Thursday. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Among the dead and missing are citizens of more than 30 countries. Many were foreigners in the area for trekking or a pilgrimage to a sacred Hindu site.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing. South Korea's Rapid Response Team is preparing to board a plane to Nepal as South Koreans remain unaccounted for. In China's Tibet Autonomous Region, rescuers are heading to the mudslide-stricken area near Gyirong Port in Gyirong County.
In Nepal's Nuwakot district, damaged houses stand precariously near the swollen, debris-choked banks of the Trishuli River. Many homes were destroyed, leaving residents in dangerous conditions.
Authorities note that the number of missing may vary across agencies due to differences in how they collected data, when it was reported and how it was verified, as well as gaps in coordination between those assembling data.
The flooding has caused significant damage to border areas of Nepal and China. Rescuers continue search and rescue operations.