Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Drone Footage Shows Nepal Glacier Collapse Behind Deadly Floods
A large glacier and part of a mountain broke away near Langtang Lirung in Nepal.
Ice, rocks, mud and dirt rushed into a valley far below.
This helped cause powerful floods in nearby rivers.
A drone and hikers across the border in Tibet recorded the collapse.
They saw dust rise like a giant cloud and heard a loud crack.
The disaster destroyed communities and made rescue work difficult.
Reports give different numbers for the dead and missing, so the full toll is still unclear.
Rescue workers and aid groups are helping people in temporary camps, including thousands of children who need support.
Footage captured a mass of bedrock and glacier ice collapsing near Langtang Lirung on August 26.
The collapse sent ice, rock, mud and debris into valleys, triggering severe flooding in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers.
A Chinese photographer’s drone and hikers in Tibet recorded views of the avalanche and the dust cloud it created.
Casualty reports differ: one account cites 903 deaths in Nepal and 16 in Tibet, while another reports 682 deaths and nearly 3,000 people unaccounted for.
Nepal’s prime minister called the disaster unimaginable as rescue teams and aid groups continue assisting survivors and children.
- Who
- People affected in Nepal and Tibet, including residents and hikers who witnessed the collapse; Nepalese rescue teams, Prime Minister Balendra Shah and aid organizations are responding.
- What
- A glacier and bedrock collapse near Langtang Lirung triggered avalanches and flash floods, causing widespread destruction and deaths.
- When
- August 26, shortly after 10:50 a.m. local time.
- Where
- Near Langtang Lirung and the Nepal–Tibet border, with flooding through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river valleys.
- Why
- The falling ice, rock, mud and debris entered valleys and severely swelled rivers, producing catastrophic floods.
Lower Reported Toll
Higher Reported Toll
Casualty and missing-person figures
Lower Reported Toll
The New York Times-based report says 682 people have died and nearly 3,000 remain unaccounted for.
Higher Reported Toll
Another report says 903 people died in Nepal and 16 in Tibet, with more than 4,500 people still missing.
Assessment of the disaster
Lower Reported Toll
Nepal’s reported figures are presented alongside ongoing rescue efforts and a warning that thousands of children need assistance.
Higher Reported Toll
Prime Minister Balendra Shah said difficult terrain, adverse weather and continuing risks have made it extremely difficult to complete an account of the losses.
- Location
- Langtang Lirung, near the Nepal–Tibet border
- Date
- August 26
- Approximate time
- Shortly after 10:50 a.m. local time
- Reported casualties
- One report cites 903 deaths in Nepal and 16 in Tibet; another cites 682 deaths
- Missing or unaccounted for
- Reports range from nearly 3,000 to more than 4,500 people
- Rescue response
- Nepal’s prime minister said 4,451 people had been rescued
- Humanitarian needs
- UNICEF warned that thousands of children need urgent assistance, while international aid has reached temporary camps
- Related disasters
- The articles cite major rock, ice and glacial-lake flood disasters in India, Sikkim and Switzerland between 2021 and 2025
