A sudden flash flood struck the Nepal-China border on Wednesday, killing 157 people and leaving 265 missing across both sides, overwhelming remote valleys and prompting emergency responses. The deluge swept away villages, destroyed bridges and electrical infrastructure, and triggered rescue operations by helicopters and ground teams.
The flood occurred at 8.30 am local time on the Tibetan side of the Bhote Koshi River, trapping a nine‑day Mount Kailash tour group that included 33 British nationals, a 13‑year‑old girl, two Irish citizens and four Nepali guides, while 157 bodies were recovered and 265 remain unaccounted for in China.
Nepal’s prime minister pledged full government support for rescue, food and shelter, while Chinese president Xi Jinping ordered an all‑out search, and rescue helicopters struggled to land amid high waters, illustrating the scale of coordinated emergency response.