Flash Floods and Landslides Hit China-Nepal Border: Dozens Dead, Hundreds Missing

Dozens of people are dead, and hundreds—many of them foreign tourists—remain missing after massive flash floods and landslides struck a border area between China and Nepal on Wednesday night. Chinese state media reported that the disaster began in Nepal at around 9 a.m., then swept into Gyirong county in China’s Tibet autonomous region. The flooding and landslides hit a border checkpoint in the county, which is administered by the city of Shigatse, causing what officials called “major casualties and missing persons.” Footage from the scene shows widespread damage, with rescue teams working through debris. The exact number of casualties has not yet been confirmed, but the scale of the missing suggests the death toll could rise. Authorities have not yet released a full list of those unaccounted for. The area is a popular crossing point for trekkers and traders, which may explain the high number of foreign nationals among the missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. Both Chinese and Nepalese officials are coordinating efforts to reach affected areas, though difficult terrain and continuing weather risks are slowing progress.