Flash Floods Kill 538 in Nepal and Tibet, Over 1,500 Missing

A family from Cobham, Surrey, residing in a £1.3 million house, was reportedly on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash when the floods struck. Hema Amin, 63, from Croydon, was also on a pilgrimage with her sister, now missing.

Sunil Amin stated, "I keep trying to call her. I’ve been trying, trying, trying." Bhupesh Bector, whose sister is missing, said, "I know that she's in Nepal for sure, so even if they find her today or tomorrow, I need to be there."

Shambhu, a relative, pleaded, "My dear sister, wherever you are, please stay strong. We are praying for your safety every moment and waiting desperately for you to return home."

King Charles expressed his "heartbroken" sentiments and offered his "most profound sympathy" to those affected by the devastating floods. The UK government pledged £5 million in aid to Nepal.

The Non-Resident Nepali Association in the UK launched an emergency fundraising appeal, already garnering over £12,000. Nepalese Police confirmed the death toll in the country had risen to 547, with several hundred people missing, including 537 tourists.

Authorities in Nepal and China issued warnings about a second wave of flooding, a risk posed by artificial lakes formed by mudslides and debris. A dam on the Tibet side of the China/Nepal border reportedly burst again, exacerbating the crisis.

China’s Ministry of Water Resources stated the lake is expected to receive another three million cubic metres over the next three days. A magnitude 5.2 seismic event occurred near the Nepal-China border on Wednesday at 8:37 AM local time, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS attributed this event to a "glacial collapse and debris flow" that subsequently caused "catastrophic impacts downstream." Rescuers are working through mud and debris along the Himalayan border between Nepal and China-controlled Tibet.

Rescuers reportedly suspended their search for survivors, and residents in Rasuwa received evacuation orders. Abi Narayan Kafle stated that "the search operation had not stopped, but rescuers have been urged to immediately move to a safe location if necessary."

Rajesh Srivastava described the situation as “very challenging,” noting the destruction had severely impacted essential infrastructure. Nepalese officials confirmed that bridges have been destroyed and nearly 25 miles of roads have sustained damage, complicating relief efforts.

Phone lines are down, and military personnel struggle to reach the mountainous area. The Nepal Army dispatched a team to the border to inspect the Bhotekoshi River.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provided contact numbers for consular assistance. The FCDO advised that "British nationals in Nepal should follow local authority advice and exercise caution while travelling."

CCTV footage reportedly shows people running for their lives during the flood at the Giyrong border crossing. Additionally, 90 Americans are understood to be unaccounted for following the disaster.