Flood strikes without warning
A wall of mud and water tore through a valley on the Nepal-China border on Wednesday, destroying buildings and sweeping away people and vehicles. CCTV footage from Gyirong, in China's Tibet region, shows residents running as the flood hits. The surge arrived with almost no warning, witnesses said. One video shows a wall of brown water crushing homes and shops in seconds.
Tourists among the missing
Hundreds of people remain missing, including at least 291 foreign tourists, according to authorities. Several British citizens are unaccounted for, among them a 13-year-old girl. The valley is a popular trekking route that draws visitors from around the world. Search teams are working through mud, rocks, and wreckage to reach stranded travelers. Hotels and guesthouses along the river were full for the peak season, which may explain the high number of visitors caught in the flood.
Rescue efforts face hard conditions
Rescue crews face difficult conditions. Landslides have blocked roads, and communication lines in remote areas are down. That makes it hard for officials to count the missing or coordinate aid. Helicopters have been sent to lift people out of cut-off villages. Hospitals on both sides of the border are on standby for survivors. Local officials said the damage is severe and the death toll could rise as rescuers reach more areas.
The flood follows days of heavy monsoon rain across the region. Relief agencies have begun moving food, water, and medical supplies toward the affected zone. The full scale of the disaster may not be known for days. Weather forecasters warned that more rain is expected later this week, which could complicate rescue work and raise the risk of new landslides.