A major flood disaster has caused widespread destruction across parts of Nepal and Tibet, with nearly 1,500 people reported missing after a huge landslide sent rocks, mud and ice into a Himalayan river.
Nepal has reported 826 people unaccounted for, including a large number of foreign tourists. In Tibet, Chinese authorities have reported another 558 missing people in Gyirong county.
Rescue operations are continuing in several affected areas as authorities work to reach communities cut off by the flooding. Helicopters are being used to evacuate stranded people and transport essential supplies, including food, tents and other emergency equipment.
Thousands of security personnel have also been deployed to support rescue and relief efforts. Teams are searching damaged areas while authorities assess the scale of the destruction and work to locate those still missing.
The floods have caused extensive damage to infrastructure, with houses, roads, bridges and vehicles reportedly swept away or badly damaged. Some areas have become difficult to access because of debris and damaged transport links.
Officials have warned that the number of casualties could increase as rescue teams reach more remote locations and assess the full impact of the disaster.
The combination of the landslide, flooding and difficult Himalayan terrain has created major challenges for emergency teams. Poor access to affected communities is also slowing rescue and relief operations in some locations.
Authorities in both Nepal and Tibet remain focused on finding missing people and providing assistance to survivors. Emergency teams are expected to continue operations as weather and ground conditions allow.
The disaster has left large numbers of families waiting for information about their relatives while communities across the affected region face the loss of homes, infrastructure and essential services.
Further updates are expected as rescue teams reach more affected areas and authorities establish the full extent of the devastation.
