Photos: Avalanche floods kill eight, hundreds missing in Nepal’s Himalayas

What the report says

At least eight people were killed and hundreds more were reported missing after an ice-and-rock avalanche triggered severe flash floods in Nepal’s Himalayan region, according to Al Jazeera, citing AFP and AP. The disaster struck on Wednesday morning and swept through areas along the Bhotekoshi river, washing away villages, roads and other infrastructure. Officials said the worst damage was in Rasuwa district, with floodwaters also affecting nearby river systems including the Trishuli and Narayani.

Authorities said 384 tourists were unaccounted for, including 291 foreign visitors from India, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Government officials urged residents in several districts to stay away from affected rivers while rescue teams worked in difficult conditions. The Nepal army deployed helicopters and disaster responders, and the government also asked India and China for help with rescue efforts. Prime Minister Balendra Shah convened an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, according to the report.

The flooding also caused major damage to infrastructure. The Nepal Electricity Authority said about 430 megawatts of power production capacity, including hydropower and solar facilities, was affected. Al Jazeera reported that climate experts linked the event to an ice-rock avalanche that blocked a tributary before releasing a sudden surge downstream, illustrating the growing danger from extreme weather and glacial instability in the rapidly warming Himalayas. Monsoon-related floods and landslides are a recurring threat in South Asia, but scientists say climate change is intensifying such risks.