A glacier collapse and subsequent flooding on the Nepal-Tibet border has killed at least 543 people, with more than 1,500 missing across both countries. Chinese authorities disclosed that 261 of the 558 people missing in Gyirong County, Tibet are foreign nationals from 23 countries, offering rare detail about the disaster on the Chinese side of the border.
The catastrophic flooding occurred near Mount Kailash, a sacred mountain that draws pilgrims from across Asia. Many of those affected were international visitors in the region for guided treks, work projects, or religious pilgrimages. Thousands have been rescued by helicopter, though rescue efforts have faced obstacles from difficult terrain and concerns about additional flooding.
Nepal has reported the highest death toll, with 538 deaths confirmed and 977 people missing. Nepali authorities said 3,253 people have been rescued by helicopter, and more than 150 injured have been taken to hospitals in Kathmandu and surrounding districts. The missing on the Nepali side include 113 Nepali tourists, 85 military and police personnel, and 161 residents from the Rasuwa district.
India reported 288 Indian nationals unaccounted for, including 73 people working on a power project. Many Indian tourists were on pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, considered a sacred site for Hindus.
Other countries with significant numbers of missing citizens include Ukraine with 55 people missing, the United States with 90 unaccounted for, Malaysia with 51, Australia with 39, and Britain with 33. Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, Russia, South Africa, Latvia, Japan, and New Zealand each reported missing citizens in the single digits to low double digits. Smaller numbers of missing people have also been reported from France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Ireland, the Netherlands, and several other countries.
Rescue operations have faced challenges beyond terrain. A group of approximately 100 people became trapped in a tunnel at a hydropower project swamped by the flooding. Rescue teams had to suspend operations temporarily when a debris dam burst its banks, creating risks of fresh flooding and forcing residents to rush up hillsides to escape possible river surges.
Chinese state media has provided limited information about the disaster on the Chinese side of the border, with footage becoming difficult to find on China's censored internet. The announcement about foreign nationals represents one of the more detailed updates from Chinese officials since the flooding began. China's foreign ministry noted that nearly 100 Chinese citizens were also missing on the Nepal side of the border.
The death toll and missing numbers may vary as rescue efforts continue and data collection methods differ among various agencies and countries.