Kathmandu: The deadly flash floods that swept through parts of Nepal on Wednesday were triggered by a powerful landslide and glacial collapse, not an earthquake as initially reported, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) clarified.
The agency said seismic activity initially identified as a 4.4-magnitude earthquake near the Nepal-China border was instead caused by a glacial collapse and debris flow that unleashed catastrophic flooding downstream.
The event occurred around 8:37 a.m. Nepal time near the Nepal-China border, north of Kathmandu. The USGS later said, “No earthquake had occurred.”
An initial assessment of satellite imagery from Planet Labs indicated that a massive landslide involving ice and rock sent a debris-laden surge into the Lhende River, around 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.
The Lhende Khola is a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River, which flows from China into Nepal. The exceptionally powerful landslide generated a flood that tore through downstream communities, killing more than 157 people.
The scale of the landslide was later estimated to be equivalent to seismic activity measuring about 5.2 magnitude.
Nepal Flash Floods
Rescue and relief operations continued Thursday across Rasuwa and other flood-hit districts as authorities searched for survivors and those still missing.
Nepal police have recovered at least 157 bodies, while authorities are also working to relocate families living in areas at risk of further flooding.
According to the tourism ministry, at least 403 people, including 341 foreigners, were unaccounted for for several hours after the disaster. The missing foreigners included 142 Indians, along with nationals from Australia, Britain, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea and the United States.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah has directed the government to deploy all available resources for rescue and relief operations as teams race to locate people buried beneath mud and debris.
The flash flood surged through the Bhote Koshi River at around 9 a.m. local time after the torrent crossed over from the Tibet side. Rasuwa and Dhading, both bordering Tibet, along with Nuwakot, were among the worst-affected districts.
The disaster also caused deaths and widespread disruption on the Chinese side of the border. China’s state broadcaster reported that three people were killed and 265 remained missing in Gyirong, while cautioning that the death toll was still being verified and rescue operations were continuing.
Security footage from the Tibet side showed residents fleeing moments before a torrent of water, mud and rocks swept through the area, destroying buildings and vehicles.
In Nepal, desperate families gathered outside a Nepali Army training center in search of information about missing relatives. The facility was being used as a base for helicopter rescue operations.
Police officers recorded the names of missing people outside the barracks, using mobile phone flashlights as electricity remained disrupted following damage to hydropower infrastructure.
Across the affected areas, homes, vehicles and trees were submerged or buried under thick layers of mud and debris. Helicopters flew continuous rescue missions, evacuating survivors as authorities assessed the full extent of the destruction.
The disaster has left communities on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border grappling with a major humanitarian emergency, with rescue teams continuing their search amid hazardous conditions and fears that the scale of the devastation could rise further.
