Devastating floods in Nepal: hundreds dead, thousands missing, widespread destruction
Devastating flash floods that struck Nepal's border region on Wednesday have left buildings in ruins, roads destroyed and the Trishuli River bursting its banks in the worst affected Rasuwa district. About 50 kilometres from the China Nepal border crossing, a small town in Rasuwa suffered severe building damage, including a completely destroyed post office.
Several vehicles were stuck in the mud. The road connecting the town to the border crossing — a key trade route between Nepal and China and a vital path for rescuers heading to the worst hit areas, including Rasuwa — has been completely washed away by the flash floods. Repair work is under way, with about 150 metres of the road already reopened to traffic. The landslides have caused numerous casualties and massive infrastructure destruction.
Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that as of 9:00 a.m. Sunday local time, 734 bodies had been recovered from the landslide affected areas, with another 2,498 people reported missing.
Rasuwa district, located on the border with China's Tibet Autonomous Region, is one of the key trade corridors between the two countries. Flash floods and landslides are not uncommon here during the rainy season, which runs from June to September. However, the scale of the current disaster is unprecedented in recent decades.
The water level of the Trishuli River rose by tens of metres, sweeping away entire neighbourhoods. The road linking Rasuwa to the border crossing was not only a trade route but also the only channel for delivering humanitarian aid to villages cut off from the outside world. Rescue efforts are complicated by constant landslides and unstable weather, and the death toll continues to rise with each passing hour.
As CCTV+ reports, the scale of the tragedy in Nepal continues to grow. Rescue operations are being carried out in extreme conditions, but access to the worst hit areas remains limited. The international community has expressed condolences and offered assistance. This disaster once again raises questions about the need to improve early warning systems and strengthen infrastructure in mountainous regions prone to natural disasters. Thousands of families are waiting for news of their loved ones, and every hour of delay could cost lives.
