Death Toll Passes 540, Hundreds Still Missing in Nepal's Catastrophic Glacier-Triggered Flood

The death toll keeps climbing in Nepal following a catastrophic flooding event that unfolded on Wednesday. Here is the latest on the search and rescue efforts as well as what caused the deadly flooding.

Frantic Search Underway for Flooding Survivors in Nepal

At least 543 people have been confirmed dead across Nepal and Tibet, with roughly 1,000 to more than 1,500 still reported missing after a glacier collapse triggered massive flooding along the border between the two nations. Search and rescue crews dug through the mud and rock on Thursday searching for survivors.

Disturbing videos show rivers of water and mud easily overtaking buildings and people as the flooding began at about 9 am local time on Wednesday. The initial torrent of water came from a glacier collapse near Langtang Lirung peak along the Nepal-China border. Officials are now telling residents to remain well away from the Bhote Koshi, Narayani, and Trishuli rivers as the dangerous conditions persist.

More than 1,500 people have been rescued or treated for injuries, according to Nepal Police, with 8,380 police personnel deployed to the region. Dozens of bridges and almost 25 miles of roads were damaged by the flow of water and mud, exacerbating the search and rescue operation.

While it is difficult to get a true picture of the damage during the chaos, officials estimate that roughly 977 people are missing in Nepal and 558 missing in Tibet, according to the latest figures from Nepali and Chinese authorities, though other recent reports put the combined missing count closer to 1,000. At least eight individuals were airlifted to Kathmandu for advanced medical treatment. Army soldiers also evacuated several people who were trapped inside Trishuli hydropower project facilities.

The force of the water carried victims hundreds of miles downstream from the point of impact in Chitwan district. The village of Soley was wiped out by the water and mud, leaving frantic relatives searching for news of their loved ones.

A new concern has emerged since the initial disaster: authorities say a barrier lake has formed at the site of the glacier collapse and is rising, raising fears of a second flood surge downstream along the Trishuli and Gandak river systems. Rescue efforts in some border areas have been paused as a precaution.

Hundreds of Foreigners Reported as Missing

Hundreds of tourists representing over 30 countries are among the missing. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that some Americans have been rescued; however, as many as 90 Americans remain unaccounted for, according to the latest reporting. At least 22 U.S. nationals were believed to have been inside an immigration building that was swept away near the border of Nepal and China.

Nepal's Tourism Board is reporting that 644 of the missing are foreigners, an increase from earlier estimates. Many of the Indian nationals among the missing were in Nepal participating in a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred Hindu site. The Tourism Board confirmed that some of the missing are from Japan, the U.K, Ukraine, and South Africa.

Melting Glacier Blamed for the Flooding

Climatologists are blaming a massive glacier collapse for the flooding. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) first reported that a magnitude 4.4 earthquake shook the region early Wednesday. Satellite imagery has since shown that a section of the glacier broke away at an elevation of about 17,000 feet, plunging roughly 3,900 feet onto the valley floor and gathering rock and sediment before striking the Lhende River in Tibet, about 12 miles northeast of the Nepal-China border crossing.

The USGS later said that the updated analysis demonstrated that the seismic event was actually a magnitude 5.2 glacier collapse rather than an earthquake. The collapse of the sheet of ice sent debris flowing downstream.

Experts at the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development also confirmed that an avalanche from the glacier was likely responsible for the sudden flooding. Researchers are still investigating whether melting contributed to the glacier's instability, though a direct link to climate change has not yet been established. This same region has been the target of similar flooding events over the last few years.

The Himalayan region has long been regarded as being particularly vulnerable to the impacts of human-caused climate change due to the prevalence of heavy rain, flooding, and landslides over the steep terrain. 

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