1,500 missing in Nepal and Tibet after devastating flood

Nearly 1,500 people, including almost 800 foreigners, are missing across Nepal and Tibet, authorities said, after a wall of mud and rock collapsed into a Himalayan river, sending catastrophic flash floods ⁠through towns and valleys.

Rescuers in Nepal used helicopters to search for survivors and drop emergency supplies to thousands cut off after yesterday's disaster swept a rugged mountainous region thronged by trekkers and pilgrims linking Lhasa in Tibet with Nepal's capital of Kathmandu.

Two Irish nationals and 12 UK citizens, including a 13-year-old girl, remain missing in the Rasuwa region of Nepal, the tour operator leading their excursion has said.

Nepal's disaster agency said that 823 people remained out of contact, more than 24 hours after the flood, including at least 579 tourists.

At least 165 people are confirmed killed, in both Nepal and in China and police said they expected the death toll to rise.

Also among the missing tourists from more than two dozen countries were 177 from India, 63 from the United States, 34 from Australia, 33 from Britain and 25 from Canada.

The tally of missing in the mudslide disaster in Tibet's Gyirong county was 558, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said, including 260 foreign nationals, but it was not immediately clear if the two nations' figures overlapped.

Kumar Adhikari, the manager of Alpine Eco Trek said the tour group the two Irish national were with, were on a nine-day tour to Mount Kailash, and were crossing into Tibet from Nepal when they became trapped at the border as the flash floods struck.

He said he was in contact with his tour guides until 8.40am when their phones went offline, at which point the group would have been inside Tibet's immigration office.

"We were hoping that inside it was safe," he said.

"But later the video came from China’s government which (showed) even Tibet’s side was hit by the flood."

In a statement the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it is closely monitoring the situation.

The department, including the Embassy of Ireland to India which covers Nepal, will provide consular assistance to impacted Irish citizens and their families, the statement added.

It pointed out that as with all consular cases, the department does not comment on individual cases.

Irish citizens requiring assistance can contact the Embassy of Ireland in India at +9111 4940 3200.

Verified videos showed crushing masses of water and debris sweeping away dozens of people at a border crossing in Gyirong, with homes, roads and power projects washed away further downstream in Nepal.

In the hardest-hit districts, helicopters are dropping tents, food and other emergency supplies provided by neighbouring India said a spokesperson for Nepal's army.

Early reports from Nepali officials suggested an earthquake in the area could have caused the lower part of a glacier to collapse and trigger the floods.

The US Geological Survey said an earthquake with magnitude initially reported as 4.4 was in fact seismic energy generated by the collapse of glacial rock and ice, followed by debris flow.

Many of the victims were making a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar, a high-altitude site in Tibet ‌revered by Hindus and Buddhists among others.

Mount Kailash, which Hindus believe to be the abode of Lord Shiva, lies on the banks of Lake Mansarovar, also held sacred in various religions.

The US State Department said it was sending a disaster response adviser and providing assistance of $500,000.

Canada was also closely following the situation, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on ⁠X, describing the floods as "absolutely devastating".

UN teams and partners were sending supplies and personnel to support affected Nepali communities, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said 34 Australians were among the missing

"Nepal ... is a developing country," he said.

"It doesn't have the resources ⁠that an event like ‌that would have in Australia, so information is difficult."

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said his government will do "everything we can" to support British nationals in Nepal.

Read more:
What triggered the catastrophic flood on the Nepal-Tibet border?
Drone footage captures devastation as floods wreak havoc in Nepal

Trekking company reports 47 missing

A group of 47 people, including two children, are missing in Nepal, their tour company said.

The group included 15 Australians, 10 Canadians, nine Nepalese, eight Americans, two Britons, two Singaporeans, and one Russian-American dual citizen, Himalayan Glacier managing director Sanket Pandey said.

Among the 15 Australians missing are two teenage boys, he said.

Most of the group were staying in the Rasuwagadhi area hit by the flood, with several travelling into the town, he said.

Seven Nepali guides are among the missing group.

Additional reporting PA