Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Nepal Floods Leave 579 Dead as Family Survives Balcony
Very large floods hit parts of Nepal and destroyed many homes, roads, bridges, and villages.
The floods have killed 579 people, and hundreds of others are still missing.
Some of the missing people are foreign tourists.
A video shows three or more family members standing on the balcony of a light-green house.
Water rushed around the house while nearby buildings fell down.
The house stayed standing with little visible damage.
Experts are still working out exactly what started the floods.
One explanation links them to an earthquake and avalanche, while Nepal's disaster agency described a snow-rock landslide and glacier-inclusive flood.
The earthquake was reported at about 8:37 am in Tibetan territory.
Nepal's flash floods have killed 579 people, while hundreds remain missing, including foreign tourists.
At least 19 motorable bridges and 40 kilometers of major roads were severely damaged or washed away.
A viral two-minute video shows at least three family members sheltering on a light-green house's balcony amid raging floodwaters.
Buildings, markets, and villages along the Bhotekoshi and Bhote Koshi river basins were swept away.
Preliminary explanations differ between an earthquake-triggered avalanche and a snow-rock landslide causing a glacier-inclusive flood.
- Who
- At least three members of one family survived on a balcony; 579 people were reported dead and hundreds missing.
- What
- Flash floods caused widespread deaths and destruction across parts of Nepal.
- When
- The earthquake mentioned in preliminary explanations occurred at around 8:37 am; the articles do not specify the flood date.
- Where
- The destruction affected river basins and districts including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Chitwan, near the Nepal-China border.
- Why
- The cause remains preliminary: one account suggests an earthquake-triggered avalanche, while Nepal's disaster authority cites a snow-rock landslide that caused a glacier-inclusive flood.
Earthquake-Triggered Avalanche
Snow-Rock Landslide
Possible cause of the flooding
Earthquake-Triggered Avalanche
Preliminary information cited a magnitude 4.4 earthquake in Tibetan territory as a possible trigger for an avalanche that led to the flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River.
Snow-Rock Landslide
Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said a glacier-inclusive flood occurred in the Lhende River after a snow-rock landslide on the Nepal-China border.
- Reported deaths
- 579
- Missing people
- Hundreds, including foreign tourists
- Bridge damage
- At least 19 motorable bridges
- Road damage
- 40 kilometers of major roads
- Viral video
- A two-minute video posted on X shows a family on a balcony
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 4.4, at approximately 8:37 am
- Reported earthquake location
- Tibetan territory, approximately 47 kilometers north of Gosainkunda