Flash Flood on Nepal-Tibet Border Leaves Over 400 Travelers Missing Including 33 British Citizens and a 13-Year-Old Girl

At least 33 British citizens, including a 13-year-old girl, are among over 400 travelers reported missing following a devastating flash flood that struck the Nepal-Tibet border region, according to officials from Nepal’s tourism board.

The sudden flooding occurred on the Tibetan side of the Bhote Koshi River around 8:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, leaving more than 341 foreign nationals unaccounted for. The tour operator Alpine Eco Trek confirmed that a teenage girl and two Irish citizens were among the missing British nationals.

According to travel logs, the missing British group includes three men aged 65, 64, and 52, along with seven women aged 44, 47, 51, 60, 63, 63, and 65. The company also confirmed that four Nepali tour guides — aged 38, 35, 45, and 29 — remain missing.

Kumar Adhikari, manager of Alpine Eco Trek, expressed deep concern: “I feel so sad. We are just thinking about what to do next. We are in pain at the moment, deep pain.”

He noted that the tour group was on a nine-day journey to Mount Kailash and had been crossing into Tibet from Nepal when they became stranded at the border due to the flood. “We were in contact with our guides until 8:40 a.m., when their phones went offline — right when they would have been inside Tibet’s immigration office,” Adhikari said. “We were hoping that inside it was safe. But later, the video came from China’s government showing even Tibet’s side was hit by the flood.”

Nepal’s tourist board reported that over 100 of the missing individuals had not yet been confirmed as having a specific nationality. Authorities stated that 157 bodies have been recovered, while over 40 people have been injured and are receiving treatment in hospitals.

A massive wall of mud and rock collapsed into the Himalayan river along the Nepal-Tibet border, causing catastrophic floods on the Nepali side, according to Reuters. Verified videos from the area show dozens of people being swept away at the border crossing.

The disaster destroyed homes, roads, and critical infrastructure in Nepal. Meanwhile, officials in Tibet expressed fears of major casualties, particularly after a mudslide struck a border land crossing in Gyirong County.

Nepal’s foreign minister, Shisir Khanal, informed parliament that initial assessments suggested an earthquake may have triggered an avalanche and subsequent floods.

South Korea’s foreign ministry confirmed that eight South Koreans working at a hydropower plant were missing, with another 10 individuals stranded in the area.

Local authorities in Nepal’s Rasuwa district and surrounding areas along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers have advised tourists to exercise extreme caution, seek higher ground if necessary, and maintain communication with hotels and travel agencies. Officials have urged visitors to avoid traveling to affected regions in the coming days.

The UK’s Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, shared his concern: “I am deeply troubled by the reports of flash floods on the Nepal-China border. My thoughts are with all those affected, especially British nationals currently in the region and their families back home.”

The British Embassy in Kathmandu has advised residents in impacted areas to follow local guidance. In a joint statement with the embassies of Australia, the EU, Finland, France, Norway, and Switzerland, officials said, “We are deeply saddened by the devastating flooding in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts and nearby areas. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. We stand in solidarity with the people of Nepal during this difficult time. We encourage all those in affected areas to heed the advice of local authorities and official safety warnings as conditions continue to develop.”

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