At least nine people have died and 19 others remain missing after monsoon-triggered floods swept away Nepal’s main bridge connecting the country to China, authorities said Wednesday, as rescue efforts continue along the swollen mountain river.
Dozens of rescuers have been deployed to the affected area and more are expected to join the operation, police confirmed. The bodies of nine victims have so far been recovered from the river, while 55 people — including four Indian nationals and one Chinese citizen — have been rescued, according to the Rasuwa District Administration Office.
Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli flew to the flood-hit region along with top ministers and officials. He had earlier convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday night, instructing all security forces and government agencies to assist in rescue and recovery operations.
The flooding on the Bhotekoshi River occurred early Tuesday and destroyed the Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadi, a vital trade link located 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Kathmandu.
Monsoon floods wash away Nepal-China bridge, 18 missing
Several houses and trucks waiting for customs inspections at the border were swept away by the floodwaters. Among the losses were hundreds of electric vehicles imported from China that had been parked at the border point.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said the 19 missing individuals include 13 Nepali citizens and six Chinese nationals. According to a statement from the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, cited by state media, the Chinese and eight of the Nepali victims were working on a Chinese-assisted construction project on the Nepali side of the border.
The destruction of the Friendship Bridge has brought trade between China and Nepal through this route to a complete halt. Authorities noted that the only alternative now is a significantly longer route — shipping goods from China to India, and then transporting them overland to Nepal.
Flooding during Nepal’s annual monsoon season, which typically runs from June to September, frequently causes widespread damage, disrupting transportation and threatening lives and livelihoods across the country.