1,300 missing, 165 dead as Himalayan Glacier collapse triggers catastrophic Nepal-Tibet floods

More than 1,300 people — including over 700 foreign nationals from more than two dozen countries — are missing and at least 165 are confirmed dead after a massive glacial collapse triggered catastrophic flooding across Nepal and China’s Tibet region, with authorities warning the death toll will rise significantly.

As reported by Al Jazeera, the disaster struck a border area popular with pilgrims and trekkers travelling between Kathmandu and Lhasa. In Nepal, 826 people are missing including nearly 500 foreigners — among them 177 Indians, 63 Americans, 34 Australians and 33 Britons. Tibet’s Gyirong county reports 558 additional missing persons.

The US Geological Survey confirmed the disaster was triggered not by an earthquake but by glacial ice and rock collapse generating seismic energy, followed by a massive debris flow. “There are no human-made structures left. Everything is just flat,” said one aerial surveyor.

The US pledged $500,000 in emergency aid while Nepal deployed 5,000 army and police personnel in search operations.