Massive floods and landslides have killed no fewer than 160 people, while at least 403 others are missing in northern Nepal, near the border with Tibet.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has left entire settlements devastated, as Nepali police said they had recovered 157 bodies.
According to reports, hundreds of tourists are unaccounted for, including 341 foreign nationals.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism disclosed that 403 tourists were reported missing several hours after the disaster struck.
According to the ministry, the missing foreigners include 142 Indians, as well as nationals of Australia, Britain, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea and the United States.
The floods and landslides were said to have swept through communities in Nepal’s northern Rasuwa District, near the border with China, burying buildings under mud and debris and cutting off roads.
The head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC, David Fisher, said entire villages and market areas had been wiped out.
“We are dispatching emergency supplies, including blankets, first aid kits, stretchers and body bags, to support relief efforts,” the IFRC said.