Nepal flash floods kill eight, hundreds missing

A glacier-ice and rock avalanche triggered devastating flash floods in Nepal, leaving at least eight people dead and hundreds of tourists, including many from the United States, United Kingdom, India and Malaysia, reported missing as the Bhotekoshi River and its tributaries surged through multiple districts. Authorities said 384 tourists were unaccounted for, with the worst impact in the Rasuwa district, where villages, roads and hydropower facilities were damaged and warnings were issued to stay away from riverbanks. Rescue efforts have drawn international involvement, with Nepal asking for help from India and China to assist in the operations. Climate specialists from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development say the floods were likely caused by a glacier avalanche, with the Lhende Khola River experiencing the most severe flooding. The event echoes a similar, larger-scale flood last August in the same region, when a Tibetan glacial lake burst due to rising temperatures, emphasizing heightened risks in a warming Himalaya.