A flash flood of historic proportions swept through the Bhotekoshi River valley in northern Nepal, near the border with Tibet (China), on Wednesday morning. The disaster, which occurred on August 26, left hundreds dead and over a thousand people missing, marking one of the worst recent natural disasters in the Himalayan region.
According to Nepalese authorities, at least 389 people died in Nepal and 910 remain missing, while in China, three deaths and 558 missing have been confirmed in the Tibet region. Among the missing are hundreds of foreigners, including tourists and workers on hydroelectric projects. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that two Portuguese nationals are among those unaccounted for.
The exact causes of the flood remain under investigation, but experts point to the detachment of a large ice block from a glacier, possibly exacerbated by climate change. Nepalese police also mentioned the possibility of a rock and ice avalanche blocking the river. Images show a transformed landscape with buried homes, swept-away bridges, and cut-off roads. The districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan have been placed on high alert for the risk of further floods.
