A significant deluge in a border region of Nepal and Tibet resulted in the tragic loss of over 160 lives on Wednesday. The catastrophic event also left numerous individuals unaccounted for, including 24 Canadians, as it tore through communities and disrupted travel in various areas.
Nepalese authorities reported 162 fatalities, while China’s state broadcaster disclosed at least three deaths and over 558 missing individuals in Tibet’s Gyirong ​county as of early Thursday. Among the missing, 260 were foreign nationals, as per CCTV.
The Bhotekoshi River surged around 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday, causing devastation to several villages, roads, and hydropower projects, as mentioned by Nepali officials. They issued alerts to residents in multiple districts of Nepal, urging them to steer clear of the banks of the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli, and Narayani rivers.
Sasmit Pokharel, a spokesperson for the Nepali government, stated, “We have asked both India and China to help us with the rescue efforts.”
Sunil Sharma, acting director of the Nepal Tourism Board’s public relations and publicity department, revealed that 403 individuals, including 341 foreign nationals, were reported missing, with 24 Canadians among them. Nepal’s ambassador to Canada later confirmed the status of the Canadian citizens.
In a statement to CBC News, Bharat Raj Paudyal mentioned that the affected area is popular among hikers and pilgrims. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed deep sorrow over the flash flood and urged all Canadians in the vicinity to register with the ROCA system for assistance.
Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the impact on Canadians and highlighted challenges in communication due to power outages in the region. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to establish contact with affected individuals.
The unfolding disaster prompted UN teams and partners to mobilize aid in Nepal, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledging support for search and rescue operations. The affected regions are no strangers to natural calamities, with previous flash floods in the area linked to glacial activities.
The Himalayan region faces heightened risks of extreme weather events due to rapid warming attributed to climate change. Studies indicate a concerning trend of glacier melting and increased vulnerability to disasters in the region.
