Massive Flash Flood at Nepal-Tibet Border. 95+ Dead. Hundreds Missing.

At approximately 9:00 a.m. local time at the Nepal-Tibet border, a massive surge of debris tore down the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River. A flash flood then entered the Trishuli River and continued downstream through Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and other districts.
Experts believe a large piece of glacier ice broke off at high elevation and dropped thousands of feet into the valley, hitting the river below. 95+ people are dead. Hundreds of tourists are still missing.

Experts speculate debris may have briefly dammed the river, causing a massive buildup of water before it gave way. USGS recorded a 4.4 earthquake at 8:37 a.m. near the border. Nepal’s foreign minister said the earthquake triggered the collapse. Other experts say the avalanche itself produced the quake signal, not tectonic activity.

Authorities are advising that there could still be a partial blockage upstream, so another surge of water is possible. All downstream areas are on alert at this time.