At least 55 people have died and another 403 are missing after the violent flood that has swept through several towns in northern Nepal, near the border with Tibet. Among the unlocated individuals are 341 foreigners, including two Spanish citizens, according to the latest report released by Nepalese authorities.
The rise hit the mountainous district of Rasuwa on the morning of this Wednesday. Water, mud, and rocks swept away villages, markets, roads, bridges, and hydroelectric facilities located along the Bhote Koshi River, one of the main waterways that cross the border between Nepal and China.
The toll remains provisional. Numerous areas remain cut off, and emergency teams have still not been able to determine the exact number of people trapped or swept away by the water.
Two Spaniards among the missing
The Nepal Tourism Board has counted 403 missing persons, of which 341 are foreigners. Among them are two Spanish citizens, although their identities and the circumstances in which contact was lost with them have not yet been provided. A significant portion of the foreigners were traveling to Tibet to participate in the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. This route attracts thousands of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain faithful each year.
The first lists also include citizens from India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, South Korea, South Africa, Australia, and the Netherlands. Authorities are working with travel agencies to verify how many people were actually in the affected area and if some managed to reach safety without yet communicating their situation.
The flood sweeps away towns, bridges, and hydroelectric plants
The mass of water reached around 9:15 AM — 3:30 AM in mainland Spain — the course of the Bhote Koshi and particularly hit the towns of Timure, Rasuwagadhi, and Syabrubesi. Videos released from the area show collapsed buildings, swept-away vehicles, and large areas covered in mud and debris.
The flood has also interrupted one of the main land connections between Nepal and Tibet. On the Chinese side, a landslide reached the border port of Gyirong and cut off roads, communications, and electricity supply.
The Chinese authorities have deployed more than 570 rescuers at the border crossing. The depth of the sediments and the damage suffered by the accesses force part of the journey to be made on foot to the most affected points.
The Nepalese electrical system has also suffered significant damage. Several hydroelectric plants have been paralyzed and around 430 megawatts of generation capacity have been affected, according to the Ministry of Energy of Nepal.
Helicopters and ground teams search for survivors
The Nepalese Army has mobilized six military helicopters and another eight aircraft from private companies. At least 29 people had been rescued during the first hours of the operation.
The efforts are advancing with difficulties. The level of the rivers, the instability of the terrain, and the destruction of roads prevent access to some localities, while the helicopters cannot land in certain areas.
The Government has ordered the evacuation of the population located in the lowest areas and has asked residents to stay away from the banks of the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli, and Narayani rivers. India and China have offered assistance and are maintaining contact with Nepal to coordinate search operations.
An earthquake and a landslide, possible origin of the catastrophe
The Nepalese Foreign Minister, Shishir Khanal, has initially attributed the flooding to an earthquake recorded shortly before the flood. The earthquake would have caused a large ice and rock avalanche that temporarily blocked the river and subsequently released a huge mass of water.
The International Center for Integrated Mountain Development also points to an avalanche of ice and rock in the Lhende Khola river, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi. However, the exact origin of the catastrophe has not yet been confirmed.
Experts have warned that a blockage remains upstream and do not rule out a second flood. Authorities have activated alerts in Nepal and in several territories of northern India due to the possibility that the rise may advance towards areas located downstream.
The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, has ordered to intensify the searches, evacuate exposed people, and strengthen surveillance against possible subsequent landslides or floods.