At least 160 dead and more than 1000 missing after floods strike Nepal-China border

At least 160 people have been killed after massive flash floods struck areas along the border between Nepal and China on Wednesday.

Police in Nepal have confirmed 157 deaths so far, while China's state broadcaster CCTV reported that three people had died.

Officials in Nepal said around 403 people, including 341 foreign nationals, are still reported missing. Sunil Sharma, a spokesperson for the country's tourism board, said 133 of those missing were Indian nationals on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred site for Hindus.

The missing also include 47 people from the United States, 34 from Australia, 33 from the United Kingdom and 24 from Canada, according to Sharma.

Meanwhile, CCTV reported that 265 people were missing following a mudslide in Gyirong County in Tibet, near the border with Nepal.

Videos shared by Nepal police and others on social media showed torrents of muddy water crashing through mountain valleys in the Himalayan district bordering China.

"I witnessed the flood sweep away eight or nine trucks, along with houses and people," Suman Chalise, a 34-year-old teacher, told AFP in Nuwakot district.

"It was absolutely heart-wrenching. I had not witnessed such devastation before."

The police spokesperson said earlier that authorities did not know the extent of the damage but said they had "alerted people who are staying near the riverside to relocate."