Nepal Floods Kill 157; Hundreds of Tourists Missing After Wall of Mud Hits River

A massive wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river on the Himalayan border between Nepal and China’s Tibet region on Wednesday, triggering catastrophic flash floods that killed at least 157 people and left hundreds of tourists missing. Verified videos from the border area show dozens of people being swept away by the rushing water. Authorities on both sides of the border say they fear the final death toll will be much higher, with massive destruction still being assessed. Houses, roads, and power projects were washed away on the Nepali side of the border. Officials in Nepal have launched rescue operations, but access to the hardest-hit areas remains difficult due to damaged infrastructure and ongoing flooding. The disaster began when a large section of hillside gave way, sending a torrent of rock, mud, and water into the river below. The resulting surge overwhelmed riverside communities and popular trekking routes, catching many tourists off guard. Nepali authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of missing foreign nationals, but local officials say hundreds of visitors were in the region at the time of the flood. Search teams are working to reach isolated villages and guesthouses, though heavy rain and unstable terrain are slowing their progress. China’s Tibet region has also reported damage, though officials there have not released casualty figures. Both governments have pledged to cooperate on rescue and recovery efforts. The flood is one of the deadliest natural disasters to hit Nepal in recent years, and the full scale of the human and economic toll is expected to become clearer in the coming days.