Catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides near the border between Nepal and China-controlled Tibet have killed around 100 people, with hundreds missing.

According to reports, a massive wall of rock and mud collapsed into a river, which triggered the flooding on the Nepali side.

More than 50 Americans are among those still missing.

Terrifying footage captured the moments of the flash flooding:

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At least 98 people were killed on the Nepali side and over 300 tourists were missing — including 54 Americans, officials said.

Though the horrifying disaster is still unfolding, initial reports suggest the floods could be the result of an avalanche triggered by an earthquake, Nepal’s foreign minister Shisir Khanal told the country’s parliament Wednesday.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has urged an “all-out” search effort after state media confirmed three people died in the landslide and 265 were still missing.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported recording a 4.4 magnitude quake around seven minutes before the security footage was taken at the border.

However, USGS hours later clarified that the trembling detected was not an earthquake, but caused by the landslide itself, registering as the equivalent of a 5.2 magnitude quake.

The powerful torrent of water and debris swept away homes, roads and businesses in Nepal, while Tibetan officials said they feared “major casualties” in the wake of the calamity, according to reports in local media.

The Nepal Tourism Board said more than 340 foreign nationals from approximately 26 different countries are among those missing.

More than 130 are from India, while over 30 are from the United Kingdom.

Many of the tourists were reportedly on their way to Mansarovar, near the border of India and Nepal.

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Reuters shared further:

Houses, roads and power projects were swept away in Nepal, while officials in Tibet said they feared “major casualties”, with some people missing in the county of Gyirong after a mudslide hit a border land crossing.

“It was a huge gush of mud coming straight towards us. As it got closer, it kept rising higher and higher. When I saw it enter our home, I tried to grab my wife’s hand and ​take her to the terrace. But she was swept away by the mud,” said Keshav Prasad Baral, a 68-year-old survivor, who was being treated at a small hospital.

“Four or five hours later, a helicopter came ​to rescue me. My wife is still somewhere beneath the mud. She’s gone.”

Another survivor described being saved by clinging to a mango tree as he watched the house ⁠where he had been working disappear.

 

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