At least 65 people were feared dead in eastern Nepal today in a landslide triggered by heavy monsoon rains that swept through a village.
Mr Lekhnath Pokhrel of the Natural Calamity Management Centre said the landslide hit Thapra village in Ramechap district while most of the villagers were asleep.
"Initial reports said 40 houses were swept away and at least 65 people are reported to be missing and feared killed," Mr Pokhrel said.
He said helicopters loaded with relief supplies and rescuers were waiting at the Kathmandu airport for the weather to clear so they could fly to the village.
The village, about 125 miles east of Kathmandu, is in a remote area with no roads. Local people use mountain trails to reach it.
The Himalayan kingdom has been badly hit by annual floods that have devastated large areas of south Asia.
PA