Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Satellite Images Show Nepal’s Trishuli River Swelled Sixfold
A large slide of rocks and ice caused a sudden flood near the Nepal-Tibet border.
The flood carried mud, rocks, and debris through nearby valleys.
The Trishuli River became much wider than it was before the disaster.
In some places, it grew as much as six times wider.
Water and debris damaged homes, roads, villages, and markets.
Nearly 300 homes may have been swallowed in Syabrubesi.
Rescue teams were still working on the tenth day, and two tunnel workers were found alive.
More than 1,200 people were reported dead, while thousands remained missing in Nepal and China.
A rock and ice avalanche on August 26 triggered devastating floods along Nepal’s Trishuli River.
In Timure, the river widened from 78 metres to 350 metres after the floods.
In Syabrubesi, the river expanded from 65 metres to 300 metres and reportedly swallowed nearly 300 homes.
In Nuwakot’s Chaupthoke locality, the river grew from 65 metres to 443 metres wide.
The disaster has reportedly killed 1,280 people and left 5,624 missing in Nepal and China.
- Who
- Residents and communities in Nepal were affected; rescue teams also rescued two workers from a hydropower tunnel.
- What
- A rock and ice avalanche triggered floods that dramatically widened the Trishuli River and caused extensive destruction.
- When
- The avalanche and flooding occurred on August 26; rescue operations were in their tenth day when the report was published.
- Where
- The disaster affected Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Lalitpur districts in Nepal, with impacts also reported in China.
- Why
- The sudden avalanche caused a rapid rise in water levels, sending mud, rocks, and debris through river valleys.
- Trigger
- A rock and ice avalanche near the Tibet-Nepal border
- Date
- August 26
- Timure river width
- Expanded from 78 metres to 350 metres
- Syabrubesi river width
- Expanded from 65 metres to 300 metres
- Chaupthoke river width
- Expanded from 65 metres to 443 metres
- Reported overall toll
- 1,280 deaths and 5,624 missing in Nepal and China
- Rescue development
- Two workers trapped inside the Trishuli-3 A Hydropower Project tunnel were rescued alive