Harrowing security footage captured the moment a wall of floodwater crashed through a Nepal-China border crossing, leaving at least 72 people dead and over 300 tourists missing.
The disaster struck the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China-controlled Tibet on Wednesday, when a massive surge of water and debris descended from the mountains and overtook a border crossing building as dozens of terrified people ran for their lives. Nepal’s foreign minister Shisir Khanal addressed the country’s parliament that same day, offering an early theory about what triggered the catastrophe.
Initial reports suggest the floods could be the result of an avalanche triggered by an earthquake, Khanal told parliament Wednesday. The German Research Centre for Geosciences recorded a 4.4 magnitude quake around seven minutes before the security footage was taken at the border, lending weight to that assessment.
The powerful torrent of water and debris swept away homes, roads and businesses on the Nepali side of the border. Tibetan officials said they feared “major casualties” in the wake of the calamity, according to reports in local media.
The human toll extends far beyond Nepal’s borders. At least 384 foreign travelers were reported missing from the region, according to Nepal’s tourism authority. The breakdown includes three from the United States, 105 from India, 93 from Nepal and 12 from the United Kingdom.
The US Embassy responded to the disaster with a statement of condolence and urgent guidance for American citizens in the region. “We extend our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster,” the embassy posted on X. The embassy added that it was “deeply saddened” by the death toll, and urged US citizens in the affected regions to avoid low-lying areas, seek higher ground and follow local instructions.
Flood alerts have been issued in populated areas downstream from the mountains, including the northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, as authorities brace for potentially worsening conditions.
In the viral moment that has circulated widely online, security cameras recorded the terrifying speed at which the floodwaters overwhelmed the border infrastructure, with people scrambling to escape the sudden deluge. The footage shows a massive surge of water descending from the mountains and overtaking a border crossing building as dozens of terrified people run for their lives, capturing in real time the destructive force of what is believed to have been a wall of mud and rock that collapsed into a river.
The mudslide is believed to have been caused by a wall of mud and rock that collapsed into a river on the Himalayan border between Nepal and China-controlled Tibet, resulting in catastrophic flooding on the Nepali side. Though the horrifying disaster is still unfolding, the full scale of the destruction remains difficult to assess as rescue and recovery efforts continue in the challenging mountainous terrain.
Nepal’s tourism authority continues to track the number of missing foreign nationals as international concern mounts over the fate of hundreds of unaccounted-for travelers in the remote border region.