'Apocalyptic' footage shows devastating impact of flash flood in Nepal as death toll rises to 177

Dozens of Brits are among the hundreds of people who remain unaccounted for following catastrophic flash floods in Nepal.

Officials in the South Asian nation said at least 826 people - including tourists, locals and members of security forces - are missing, while 177 bodies have been recovered so far.

Footage that has been dubbed 'apocalyptic' captured the moment that helpless onlookers were wiped out by a wave of mud, rock and water at the Gyirong Port on Wednesday (26 August).

Video circulating on social media captured the moment that those at the China-Nepal border crossing in Tibet ran for their lives in the seconds before buildings and vehicles were swallowed up.

This wall of devastation was described as a 'tsunami from the sky' by the president of the Nepal Centre for Disaster Management, Bishal Nath Upreti, who said that villages have been 'completely wiped out' by it.

According to the BBC, at least 558 people in Gyirong county are missing, including 260 foreigners. China's state broadcaster, CCTV, also reported that three people have died in the area.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday, Upreti said that 'huge debris' came flying towards those who had been at the border crossing.

"It was such a huge amount of water," he said. "You can imagine it is 20 million cubic meters excess water on the river, and it was like a tsunami from the sky.

"It’s such a huge debris, and everything on the way was completely washed out. Villages and villages along the almost 40 to 50 kilometres were completely wiped out."

Properties were completely obliterated on Wednesday amid the terrifying incident - and survivors have spoken out about the harrowing moment the 'huge gush of mud' coming straight for them.

Keshav Prasad Baral, 68, told CNBC from his hospital bed: "As it got closer, it kept rising higher and higher. When I saw it enter our home, I tried to grab my wife’s hand and take her to the terrace.

"But she was swept away by the mud. Four or five hours later, a helicopter came to rescue me. My wife is still somewhere beneath the mud. She’s gone."

Similar terrifying stories are emerging from Nepal as rescue efforts continue in wake of the flash floods which caused rivers to swell their banks and spread thick mud across populated areas, burying houses and engulfing people.

Videos posted on X showed huge flood waters surging through valleys as people screamed in terror, with bridges being washed away.

Other videos showed people desperately fleeing uphill to escape the surging muddy flood waters.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said a magnitude 5.2 seismic event occurred near the border between Nepal and China on Wednesday at 8.37am local time.

It added that a 'glacial collapse and debris flow' caused 'subsequent catastrophic impacts downstream'.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority in Nepal said in an update on Thursday morning that 177 bodies had been recovered in the Rasuwa region so far.

It said the number of missing people had risen from 403 to 826. It is believed that 33 UK citizens are among the foreign nationals who remain unaccounted for - including a 13-year-old girl.

This also includes three men aged 65, 64, and 52, and seven women aged 44, 47, 51, 60, 63, 63, and 65, according to travel logs obtained by the Press Association.

A spokesman for Nepal's tourism board said that 133 of those missing were from India on pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, which is a sacred site for Hindus.

Also among the missing were 47 people from the US, 34 from Australia, and 24 from Canada.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that the Government will do 'everything we can' to support British nationals in Nepal following the floods.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was 'deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the floods in Nepal'.

It added: "British nationals in Nepal should follow local authority advice and exercise caution while travelling. For consular assistance call (+44) (0)207 008 5000 or (+977) (0)14237100."