A devastating Nepal-Tibet border flash flood has killed at least 359 people, while more than 1,300 remain missing as search operations continue in affected areas. The disaster struck Rasuwa district north of Kathmandu after a glacial collapse and debris flow sent floodwaters and debris through villages and infrastructure. Nepalese authorities have recovered hundreds of bodies, while separate reports indicate significant numbers of tourists and foreign nationals remain unaccounted for. Officials cautioned that missing-person figures could overlap across Nepal and Chinese records.

At least 359 people have died, and hundreds are missing after a flash flood and mudslide along the Nepal-Tibet border.

Work continued Thursday on the Nepal-Tibet border flash flood after a glacial collapse and debris flow caused flooding in Rasuwa, north of Kathmandu, destroying villages and infrastructure.

The United States Geological Survey confirmed the disaster was caused by a glacial collapse and debris flow that swept through areas along the international border.

Nepal Police said it had recovered 359 bodies from flood-affected areas, but officials warned the final death toll could be much higher.

The flooding hit early in the morning Wednesday in Rasuwa, a district north of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, where roads, buildings and infrastructure were damaged by floodwaters.

Nepalese officials warned the death toll could be enormous. In Tibet, where searches are also underway, Chinese state media reported heavy casualties.

Missing Tourists and Foreign Nationals

Sunil Sharma, spokesman for the Nepal Tourism Board, told the BBC that 826 people are missing in Nepal, including 644 tourists still out of contact.

The missing group comprises 288 Indian nationals, 127 Nepali tourists, 65 Americans, 53 Ukrainians, 51 Malaysians, 35 Australians and 33 British nationals, Sharma said.

Almost 100 Chinese nationals were also reported missing in Nepal, the spokesperson of China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement following the disaster.

The sheer volume of missing-person figures has made it difficult to arrive at an accurate count, especially given the potential for duplicate records from authorities in Nepal and China.

Officials have not confirmed whether any of the same individuals are on separate lists of missing people issued by Nepal and China, adding to confusion over the total.

Alpine Eco Trek, a company that organizes guided tours and expeditions in Nepal, said 12 British nationals, two Irish nationals and four South Africans were missing.

Information from Alpine Eco Trek said the group was reportedly on a tour across the Nepal-Tibet border when the disaster happened.

A second travel company, Kailash Journeys, told the BBC that seven of those missing were British nationals and their fate was unknown.

The missing British nationals, aged between 13 and 65, included a range of people, travel logs seen by the PA news agency showed.

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Tibet Reports Hundreds Missing

CCTV, China’s state broadcaster, said Thursday the number of missing people on the Chinese side in Tibet’s Gyirong county has risen to 558.

CCTV said that among the missing in Gyirong county were 260 foreigners, and the death toll on the Chinese side remained at three.

China governs Tibet, and its state media has reported heavy casualties from the flooding, with authorities still searching and rescuing in the affected areas.

The disaster has disrupted transport and infrastructure along a strategically important cross-border region, potentially complicating rescue efforts and communications between Nepal and Tibet.

Search crews on both sides of the border continue to look for the missing, recover bodies, and assess damage from floodwaters and debris.

Casualty figures are expected to be revised as rescue teams reach isolated locations and information becomes available from affected communities and traveling groups.

Rescue Efforts and What Happens Next

The immediate focus is on finding missing people and helping survivors, while authorities assess damage to roads, infrastructure and facilities in the affected border communities.

The United States Geological Survey’s finding that a glacier collapsed and triggered a debris flow helps explain the sudden flooding and widespread destruction reported across the region.

Officials are also struggling to reconcile missing-person records involving tourists and nationals from multiple countries as searches continue separately in Nepal and China.

Sprouts News said the unfolding disaster highlighted the need for confirmed casualty figures, coordinated cross-border rescue operations and timely information for families waiting for news.

Casualty and missing-person figures are still tentative, and more information will come to light as searches continue and authorities assess the full human and infrastructure toll.