Himalayan flash floods kill over 600, thousands still unaccounted for

Rescue teams in Nepal and Tibet are searching for nearly 3,000 people missing after flash floods and mudslides devastated the Himalayan region, with 633 bodies recovered so far. The disaster was triggered by a glacier break, followed by an avalanche, earthquake, and landslide, leaving entire communities cut off. Nepal's finance minister has estimated that at least $4 billion will be needed for rebuilding efforts.

The disaster unfolded as a cascading chain of events along the Nepal-China border, beginning with a glacier break that triggered an ice and rock avalanche, followed by an earthquake and then a landslide that unleashed the devastating floods. This sequence tore through valleys, cutting off entire communities and leaving rescue teams struggling to reach affected areas.

The human toll continues to climb, with Nepal's disaster authority reporting 2,426 Nepalis missing alongside 517 foreigners. Around 500 displaced people are sheltering at a monastery-turned-relief camp in northern Kathmandu. Nepal's finance minister has estimated rebuilding costs at $4–5 billion, while the Red Cross warns that such extreme events may become more frequent.