546 Dead, 2000 Missing in Nepal-Tibet Flood Disaster

A devastating flash flood and landslide in the Rasuwa district of Nepal, near the Tibet border, has resulted in at least 546 fatalities and over 2,000 individuals reported missing. The disaster struck on Wednesday morning, inundating communities along the Trishuli River and causing significant destruction to infrastructure.

As of the latest reports, 4,451 people have been rescued or injured, including 129 foreign nationals, with 8,380 police personnel deployed for rescue operations. In Tibet, three deaths have been confirmed, with 558 individuals still unaccounted for.

The flooding, which began around 8:40 a.m. local time, was triggered by a massive landslide approximately 12 miles from the Rasuwagadhi border post. The United States Geological Survey recorded seismic activity related to the landslide at a magnitude of 5.2, initially misidentified as a 4.4-magnitude earthquake.

Scientists are investigating the cause of the landslide, which may have displaced over 100 million cubic meters of ice, rock, and debris.