Flash Floods, Landslides Kill 180 Along Nepal-Tibet Border
At least 180 people have been killed and more than 1,300 others reported missing after flash floods and landslides devastated communities along the Nepal-Tibet border. The disaster struck on Wednesday morning along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, sending torrents of water, mud and debris through villages and towns. Homes were submerged and vehicles were swept away as the floodwaters moved through affected areas. Nepali police said 177 bodies had been recovered, while 823 people remained unaccounted for, including 517 foreign tourists. In Tibet, Chinese state media reported that three people were killed at Gyirong Port, with 558 others, including 260 foreigners, still missing. Those reported missing include nationals from India, Australia, Britain, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea and the United States. Rescue teams have been working through mud and debris to locate survivors and evacuate people from affected communities. Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah travelled by road to some of the worst-hit areas on Thursday after urging citizens to stand together in the aftermath of the disaster. The Rasuwa district in northern Nepal was among the first areas hit. Floodwaters later spread southward, with deaths reported across seven districts as the disaster reached Chitwan near the Indian border.
An aerial view captures homes submerged in mud and debris following flash floods in Devighat, Bidur Municipality, Nepal’s Nuwakot district, on August 27, 2026. Nepal’s disaster agency reported that 823 people were still unaccounted for more than 24 hours after the deadly flooding struck the area along the Tibet border. Photo: Prabin Ranabhat/AFP
The United States Geological Survey said the disaster was initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake but subsequent analysis indicated that it was caused by a glacial collapse and debris flow. The collapse generated a massive surge of water and debris downstream. Environmental historian Ruth Gamble of La Trobe University described the event as resembling an “inland tsunami,” with the surge travelling about 170 kilometres into Nepal. Concerns remain over the possibility of additional flooding. Authorities say large amounts of debris have blocked parts of the river, while a technical assessment by the Nepali government warned that further water flow could not immediately be ruled out. China has deployed nearly 800 emergency workers, sniffer dogs and speedboats to support rescue efforts in Tibet. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has also announced emergency supplies, including blankets, first-aid kits, stretchers and body bags. The disaster has also affected pilgrims returning from Mount Kailash in Tibet. Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru said scores of Hindu devotees were among those missing after they were caught in the floods near an immigration post. The Dalai Lama has expressed condolences and said he would pray for those who lost their lives. Scientists have also linked the growing risk of glacial disasters to climate change, as rising temperatures continue to accelerate glacier melting and increase the threat of glacial lake floods and collapses.
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