On Wednesday morning, August 26, a catastrophic flash flood and mudslide struck the border area between Jilong County in Shigatse, Tibet, China and Rasuwa County in Nepal. The sudden disaster not only washed away villages along the Bhote Koshi River but also caused destruction to roads, bridges, several hydroelectric power plants, and other infrastructure, resulting in heavy casualties.
The death toll and number of missing persons from this disaster continue to rise. The Nepalese police announced on Friday, the 28th, that the local death toll had risen to 489 people. Combined with the 3 reported deaths on the Tibetan side, at least 492 people from both countries have been confirmed dead, with around 1,500 people still missing.
According to the latest report from the Nepalese National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), over 900 people are missing on the Nepalese side, including 537 foreign nationals. The Chinese official report stated that 558 people are missing in Jilong County, Tibet, including 260 foreigners.
As rescue operations are ongoing, the number of missing persons is expected to increase, leading to a further rise in the death toll.