Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Nepal-Tibet Flood Death Toll Rises as New Surge Threatens
A glacier and part of a mountain broke apart near Nepal and Tibet.
Ice, rocks and mud rushed into rivers and caused a huge flood.
The flood destroyed homes, roads, bridges and power facilities.
Earlier reports said 362 people had died, but a later Nepal Police update raised the toll to 469.
The police also reported 1,545 injured people.
Many people were still missing, including 290 Indians who could not be contacted.
Rescue teams are using soldiers, helicopters and ground crews to look for survivors.
Mud and broken roads are making the rescue work difficult.
Officials are also worried that temporary lakes could break and cause another flood.
A later Nepal Police update put the death toll at 469, up from 362 in earlier reports, and reported 1,545 injuries.
The disaster began when a glacier and mountain slope collapsed, sending ice, rocks, mud and water through Nepal’s river valleys.
Nearly 1,500 people were reported missing in earlier updates, including 290 Indian nationals who remained uncontactable.
Floods and debris damaged or destroyed homes, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.
Temporary lakes and blocked river channels continue to pose a risk of another flood surge, while thousands of rescuers search affected areas.
- Who
- People in Nepal and Tibet were affected; Nepalese, Chinese and Indian authorities, police, soldiers and rescue teams are responding.
- What
- A glacial and mountain-slope collapse triggered an ice-rock avalanche, debris flows and catastrophic flooding.
- When
- The disaster struck on Wednesday; a later Nepal Police update was published on August 28, 2026.
- Where
- The worst-affected areas included Nepal’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Chitwan and surrounding districts, the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors, and Tibet’s Gyirong area.
- Why
- The collapse sent ice, rocks, mud and water into river channels, creating a powerful downstream surge; temporary lakes and debris blockages now threaten additional flooding.
- Latest reported deaths
- 469, according to a later Nepal Police update.
- Earlier reported deaths
- 362, including 359 in Nepal and three in Tibet.
- Injured
- 1,545 people, according to the later Nepal Police update.
- Earlier missing-person total
- 1,468 people were reported missing across Nepal and Tibet in an earlier update: 910 in Nepal and 558 in Tibet.
- Indian nationals
- 290 remained uncontactable in an earlier update; 84 had been rescued, including 63 hydropower workers and 21 people from Tamil Nadu.
- Infrastructure damage
- Earlier Nepalese figures cited damage to 35 motorable bridges, 45 suspension bridges and about 40 kilometres of paved roads.
- Rescue deployment
- Nepal Police said 8,386 police personnel had been mobilised; more than 800 people had also been evacuated in an earlier update.
