Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Nepal-China Flash Floods Kill 768, Leave Thousands Missing
A very large flood and mudslide hit Nepal and nearby China on Wednesday.
It sent water, rocks, and mud through a mountainous area.
Many people died, and thousands are still missing.
Some Indian citizens were rescued from Nepal.
Hundreds of other Indians were safe in China or crossed into Nepal.
Rescue workers are searching tunnels where workers may be trapped.
Indian teams are helping the Nepali Army with these searches.
Another Indian team is using DNA to identify people who died.
Scientists said the flooding may have started when a glacier collapsed.
At least 149 Indians were rescued from flood-hit Nepal by Sunday evening, while 500 more were reported safe in China.
The Ministry of External Affairs said 403 Indians had safely crossed from China into Nepal.
The overall death toll in Nepal and China rose to 768, with nearly 3,000 people missing.
Indian rescue teams recovered one body from a tunnel near Nepal’s Langtang hydroelectric project amid harsh weather.
A 19-member Indian forensics team began analysing DNA samples to identify flood victims’ remains.
- Who
- Residents, workers, Indian citizens, Nepali and Chinese authorities, and Indian rescue and forensics teams were affected or involved.
- What
- Flash floods and mudslides killed 768 people, left nearly 3,000 missing, and prompted rescue and identification operations.
- When
- The disaster occurred on Wednesday; updates cited in the report were issued on Sunday.
- Where
- The flooding struck Nepal’s Rasuwa district near the northern border with China, about 120 kilometers north of Kathmandu.
- Why
- The United States Geological Survey attributed the floods to a glacial collapse, while the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development said ice and rock debris entered the Lende Khola and triggered a sudden surge.
- Reported death toll
- 768 people in Nepal and China
- People missing
- Nearly 3,000 overall; 2,426 on the Nepal side and 546 on the Chinese side were reported missing
- Indians rescued
- 149 Indians were rescued from Nepal as of 5:30 p.m. Sunday
- Indians safe in China
- 500 Indians were reported safe on the Chinese side of the border
- Indians crossing into Nepal
- 403 Indian citizens had safely crossed from China into Nepal
- Tunnel rescue
- More than 100 workers were believed trapped in multiple hydropower tunnels in Nepal
- Forensics assistance
- A 19-member Indian team began analysing DNA samples to identify victims
