Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered a full-scale search and rescue operation after reports of deaths in the Gyirong border area in Tibet, China's state news agency Xinhua reported.
Chinese media report “huge losses”, without specifying them.
On the Nepalese side, at least eight people have been killed, AFP reports. The Kathmandu Post reports flooded rivers, a destroyed hydroelectric plant, markets swept away and a 42-kilometre road washed away.
The flooding reportedly began in Tibet early Wednesday and quickly caused the Bhotekoshi River in northern Nepal to rise. Dozens of villages along the riverbanks were affected. In Nuwakot, northwest of Kathmandu, people and entire homes were swept away as the water level rose rapidly.
People can't even talk, Yugnath Adhikari, who himself witnessed how two sisters, a nephew and his wife were washed away, tells The Kathmandu Post.
Some managed to get to safety, but many people, especially the elderly and children, are reported missing. In Timure, near the border with China, nine police officers are missing.
A major search and rescue operation has been launched, involving helicopters.
