Nepal-Tibet flash flood: BBC Verify traces the deadly path of destruction

A devastating flash flood has struck the Nepal-Tibet border region, destroying towns, sweeping away bridges, and leaving hundreds dead with hundreds more missing. BBC Verify has traced the path of the flood using verified eyewitness videos and satellite imagery.

Scale of the disaster

The flash flood tore through communities along the Nepal-Tibet border with extraordinary force, demolishing settlements and infrastructure in its path. Satellite imagery reveals the dramatic transformation of the landscape, with rivers swollen far beyond their banks and entire sections of road and bridge networks obliterated.

Verified video footage collected by BBC Verify shows the wall of water and debris advancing through valleys, corroborating witness accounts of a sudden and catastrophic rise in water levels that gave residents little time to flee.

Ongoing rescue efforts

Rescue teams are searching for survivors and recovering bodies from the floodwaters and debris fields. The disaster has cut off access to affected communities, hampering relief efforts. Hundreds of people are reported dead and a comparable number remain missing as of the time of reporting.