A sudden surge of water and mud from the Tibet border area has devastated Nepal’s Rasuwa district, leaving at least eight people dead and 384 tourists missing, according to authorities. Nepal Tourism Board data show that 291 foreign tourists, including 105 Indians, and 93 Nepali tourists cannot be located. The flooding struck Wednesday morning, sweeping away riverside settlements, markets, roads and bridges along the Bhotekoshi River.

Nearly a dozen villages, including areas around Syabrubesi and Timure, suffered extensive damage, according to Northgaya Rural Municipality Deputy Chair Chameli Gurung. The missing list also includes 41 police personnel and 14 customs office employees. At least 25 people have been rescued, but disrupted communications and a washed-away helipad have complicated access to remote areas.

Experts cited satellite data indicating heavy rainfall in Tibet and said water and mud may have descended after a dam or reservoir failure, though a glacial-lake outburst has not been confirmed. Power facilities, including the Chilime hydropower project, were damaged. Authorities have deployed the army and police, issued downstream alerts, and advised people to avoid the Prithvi Highway and the Muglin-Narayanghat road.