A video shows one of the most terrifying moments of the tragedy that struck northern Nepal: a massive flood suddenly surges into a tourist area and reaches the people who were there.
The footage shows the water violently advancing through the area as people try to escape. The current eventually covers virtually everything in its path, and several buses used to transport tourists are also caught up and subsequently swept away by the water.
The location is Syabrubesi, in Rasuwa District, an area used as a transit point for those traveling through this Himalayan region and heading toward trekking and pilgrimage areas. The nearby town of Timure was also hit by the flood.
The flood occurred on Wednesday 26 August after the Bhote Koshi River suddenly increased its flow. What is particularly bewildering is that local residents reported that it was not raining when the flood arrived, so the water appeared virtually without warning.
Initial investigations point to a phenomenon that occurred upstream, possibly involving a landslide, avalanche, or the collapse of glacial material, which may have released a huge amount of water into the river channel. The exact cause is still being investigated.
The force of the current caused massive destruction: homes, roads, bridges, and hydroelectric projects were damaged or completely swept away. Even a helicopter sent to rescue people trapped in Timure had to turn back because the flood had destroyed the helipad.
And the human toll of the tragedy continues to rise. Nepalese authorities report 157 dead and hundreds missing, while more than 400 travelers were initially reported out of contact, including hundreds of foreigners.
The video shows particularly starkly what happened: people who were in a tourist area found themselves facing, within seconds, a current advancing with enough force to carry away even the vehicles used to transport visitors.
Here is the clip: