Torrential rains have triggered flash floods in a Himalayan valley along the China-Nepal border, leaving at least one person dead and 28 others missing, authorities said.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that 17 of the missing are Nepali nationals, while Chinese authorities confirmed 11 others remain unaccounted for.
The floods caused the collapse of a major bridge over the Bhotekoshi River, a key link between China and Nepal, severely disrupting transport and communication in the region.
Floods and landslides are common during the monsoon season from June to September across South Asia. However, experts have warned that such disasters are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.
Last year, the UN’s World Meteorological Organization issued a stark warning that the growing frequency of floods and droughts signals a grave threat for the future. In June, the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) also cautioned that communities in mountain regions could be at greater risk during this year’s monsoon.
Sources: Reuters, CNA, AF.