Chilling satellite pics show before and after horror Nepal flash floods as torrent of mud wipes out villages

CHILLING before and after satellite pictures show the catastrophic devastation caused by killer flash floods in Nepal. An apocalyptic torrent of floodwater triggered by a violent avalanche wiped out towns in a narrow valley on the Nepal-Tibet border. Satellite images show the once vibrant landscape Credit: via REUTERS Before a torrent of floodwater and mud burst through the river banks Credit: via REUTERS Houses lie submerged in muddy water along the valley Credit: AFP Villagers and tourists were swept away in the flash floods Credit: Reuters Shocking satellite images of the aftermath show how the once vibrant landscape has been consumed by a sea of mud and debris. Homes, roads, bridges and power lines were swept away in seconds along with victims who had no chance of fleeing the fast-moving deluge. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Rescue operations have been hampered by bad weather but hundreds are presumed dead as a desperate search continues for tourists and locals. An ice avalanche so big it registered as a 4.4 mag quake blocked the Lhende Khola River causing a colossal build-up of floodwater. The deluge burst through the river bank and tore through villages along the river. Horrifying footage showed Tibet’s Gyirong Port land crossing totally engulfed as the brown wall of floodwater exploded over a 50-foot building. Many terrified victims in the path of the torrent had no chance of escape as the tide obliterated buildings and vehicles in its path. At least 33 Brits are among a number of tourists who are so far unaccounted for. Most read in The Sun More shocking before and after pictures show the toll taken by the landscape Credit: Reuters Chinese and Nepalese officials warned of “major casualties” and “huge-scale loss” and authorities from 26 different nations search for their citizens. Traumatised flood survivor Kalpana Malla told how her family had been swept away “in front of my eyes”. Kalpana wept as she told how her parents, sister and sister’s children vanished in the flood. She said: “They could not escape the flood; there was no chance at all. “This flood took everything, but my son and I climbed the rooftop of a house and survived”. Another survivor, Tula Bahadur, a health worker in Rasuwa, said: “It all came suddenly. “We heard a loud sound, like a volcano erupting. People started to scream and ran away – there is devastation everywhere we look. “The settlements next to the river have been completely swept away. Five of my own relatives are missing.” CCTV footage shows people running away as wall of mud destroys buildings in a valley at Nepal-China border, in Gyirong Credit: Reuters A wave of debris pounded what appeared to be a car park in Jiulong Port Credit: X/tears Lee Britain’s embassy in Nepal said it was “deeply saddened by the devastating flooding” in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. The Nepal Army deployed 14 helicopters and brought in disaster response teams to look for survivors as private aircraft also helped. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out” rescue operations as emergency crews scrambled to rescue people trapped in the rubble. He said: “The most urgent task is doing everything possible to search for and rescue the missing people, treat injured people and minimise casualties to the greatest extent possible.” Around 4,000 people live in the town at the Gyirong County border crossing between China and Nepal, north of Nepalese capital Kathmandu. In a joint statement with Australia, the EU, Finland, France, Norway and Switzerland, the UK embassy in Nepal said: “We are deeply saddened by the devastating flooding in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts and surrounding areas. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster. We express our solidarity with the people of Nepal during this difficult time. “We encourage all those in affected areas to follow the guidance of local authorities and official safety advisories as the situation continues to evolve.” Terrifying footage shows a tsunami of floodwater roar down the river Credit: AFP Damaged power lines and a truck being dragged under the mud Credit: AP Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said: “I am deeply concerned to hear of the flash floods on the Nepal-China border. “All my thoughts are with those affected and with British nationals in the area and their relatives here at home.” The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has urged Britons in Nepal to follow local authority advice in the wake of the disaster. Comment now