Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Nepal Flash-Flood Death Toll Rises Amid Fresh Flood Warning
A very large flash flood hit central Nepal on Wednesday.
An ice-and-rock avalanche caused by a glacial collapse sent water, mud and debris downstream.
The flood damaged homes, vehicles, roads, bridges and hydropower projects.
Nepal Police later reported that 538 people had died.
An earlier report on the same day gave a lower death toll of 469.
Rescue teams were still searching for people on the third day.
More than 7,000 security personnel were helping with the rescue work.
Officials also said that 1,545 injured or stranded people had been rescued, although 84 still needed hospital treatment.
Another flood may happen because water is rising in a lake formed by avalanches near Tibet.
Nepal Police reported 538 deaths from flash floods on Friday, up from 469 in an earlier Friday report.
Bodies were recovered from eight districts, including Chitwan, Nawalparasi East, Gorkha and Rasuwa.
Search and rescue operations entered their third day with 7,451 security personnel deployed.
An earlier report said 1,545 injured or stranded people had been rescued, with 84 receiving treatment in Kathmandu.
Authorities warned of another possible flood as water levels rose in an avalanche-created lake near the Tibet border.
- Who
- Residents of central Nepal were affected, while Nepalese police, army and other security personnel conducted rescue operations.
- What
- A flash flood killed hundreds of people, caused extensive damage and prompted a warning of possible further flooding.
- When
- The flood occurred on Wednesday; the death toll figures were reported on Friday during the third day of rescue operations.
- Where
- The disaster affected central Nepal, including eight districts near the Nepal-Tibet border; some survivors were treated in Kathmandu.
- Why
- An ice-rock avalanche caused by a glacial collapse triggered the flood, while rising water in an avalanche-formed lake created a risk of another flood.
- Latest reported death toll
- 538 people, according to a Friday report at 16:10
- Earlier reported death toll
- 469 people, according to an earlier Friday report at 09:12; the reports give different totals
- Districts with recovered bodies
- Eight districts
- Security personnel mobilised
- 7,451, including 2,391 Nepal Army personnel
- People rescued
- 1,545 injured and stranded people, according to the earlier report
- People receiving treatment
- 84 rescued people in hospitals in Kathmandu
- Disaster trigger
- An ice-rock avalanche caused by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border
- Further-flood risk
- Water levels rose in a lake formed by avalanches, according to Nepal's disaster-management authority
