At least 95 people have lost their lives —according to the latest report—and hundreds are missing following the devastating flash floods that struck northern Nepal and parts of Tibet in China, sweeping away homes and roads and causing severe damage to bridges and energy infrastructure.

As Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Sishir Kanaal, the disaster was caused by an earthquake, which triggered a massive landslide that blocked the Bhote Koshi River, resulting in the devastating flood.

“An earthquake struck today at 8:37 a.m. (local time) and caused a massive landslide, which blocked the river; it appears that this triggered the flood,” Kanaal stated during a session in the House of Representatives.

BREAKING: New footage shows absolutely horrifying scenes along the China-Nepal border amid devastating flash floods; hundreds are missing, and many are feared dead pic.twitter.com/hwXTz8IzjP

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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a 4.4-magnitude earthquake in the region at the same time reported by the Nepalese minister.

Authorities warn that the death toll may rise significantly, while Chinese officials express fears of “heavy casualties.”

| – Devastating flooding has hit Nepal. pic.twitter.com/QV0WIFGctV

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384 tourists are missing

Homes and roads were swept away in Nepal, while in Tibet, people are missing in Gyirong County following a landslide that struck a border crossing between the two countries.

According to officials, 384 tourists are missing, including 291 foreign nationals from countries such as India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia.

READ ALSO: Shocking videos: The moment massive waves sweep away everything in Nepal

The situation is particularly dire in the Syapru Besi and Timure areas, in the mountainous Rasuwa region, where approximately 50,000 people live. Rescue helicopters cannot land due to the extent of the flooding, as the river has risen far above its normal banks.

Floods in Nepal have left a trail of destruction in their wake In the Rasuwa District, in the Timure and SyuAfrubesi areas of Rasuwa District, heavy, and there are reports of several villages. According to The Himalayan, 384 hikers are missing, of whom 105 are reported to be Indian citizens . #NepalFloods #Nepal #Rasuwa #NepalDisaster… pic.twitter.com/fqwXwce4KA

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Television footage shows houses being swept away by the raging waters, cars floating, and a metal bridge being carried away by the current. Eyewitnesses told Reuters that entire villages were submerged.

“There could be many casualties or extensive property damage,” warned the regional commander, Narendra Pariyar, urging residents along the banks of the Bhote Koshi to move to higher ground.

“There’s devastation everywhere you look”

A health worker in Rasuwa described the extent of the devastation. “There is devastation everywhere you look. The villages along the river have been completely swept away. Five of my relatives are missing,” he told Reuters.

The army spokesperson said that Nepal’s rescue helicopters would not be able to land in the affected areas until the waters recede.

The Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that the landslide, which occurred on the Nepalese side and struck the Gyirong border crossing, cut off roads, telecommunications, and power in the Shigatse region, near the border.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “every possible effort” be made to locate the missing persons, as well as to strengthen monitoring and early-warning systems to prevent secondary disasters.

60 workers missing at a hydroelectric project

Meanwhile, 60 workers at a hydroelectric project under construction in northern Nepal are missing following the floods, according to the country’s state media.

The workers were employed at the 20-MW Langtang Khola hydroelectric project in the Rasuwa district near the border with China, according to the national news agency RSS.

“The project was carrying out concrete pouring work inside a tunnel. The flood caused serious damage to the project,” the agency reported.

This isn’t a scene from a movie…. Shocking visuals are coming in #From Nepal… Western – Eastern Champaran, Saran, Gopalganj, Mujffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamadi, and Shivhar districts are on are on alert…. In the Valmikinaagar area, a #a 3-meter-high flash flood is reportedly expected… pic.twitter.com/P4c1wtPylg

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Rasuwa is home to several hydroelectric projects that harness the rushing rivers of the mountainous region.

In total, according to Nepal’s Ministry of Energy, power generation facilities with a capacity of 430 MW were affected, primarily hydroelectric projects. This represents more than 12% of the country’s total hydropower capacity, which amounts to approximately 3.2 GW.

Army and Police Join Rescue Operations

The police and military are participating in rescue operations, according to Nepal’s Prime Minister, Balendra Shah.

“Instructions have been given to evacuate people living in low-lying areas to safer locations,” he said. “People along the river are urged to be especially careful and remain on alert.”

The Bhote Koshi originates in Tibet and flows into the Trishuli River in Nepal, which then enters India as the Gandak River.

Last year, a flood on the Bhote Koshi claimed the lives of nine people and swept away the so-called “bridge of friendship” connecting Nepal and China, disrupting trade and transportation for months. That disaster was caused by the sudden drainage of a glacial lake in Tibet, according to a regional climate monitoring agency.

The Red Cross is also in the region

The Red Cross announced that it is deploying an emergency response team and sending humanitarian aid to the areas affected by the floods in Rasuwa.

“Communities are urged to remain vigilant and follow official safety guidelines,” the Red Cross regional office for Asia and the Pacific said in a post, while also sharing a video showing rushing waters flowing through a building.

The Red Cross team in Nepal has “activated its emergency response teams, mobilized volunteers, and is deploying an emergency team with essential supplies.”

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which works closely with national societies during crises, has stated that it is ready to assist with relief efforts.

Source: Proto Thema