Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Himalayan Flash Floods Leave Nearly 1,500 Missing Across Nepal, Tibet
A huge flood hit the mountainous area between Nepal and Tibet.
Mud, rocks and water rushed through towns and valleys very quickly.
Nepal reported at least 162 deaths, while China reported three deaths in Tibet.
Authorities said nearly 1,500 people were missing in both areas.
Many missing people were foreign visitors, including pilgrims traveling toward Mount Kailash.
Rescue teams used helicopters to look for survivors and deliver food, tents and medicine.
More than 5,000 army and police personnel helped with the rescue.
Roads, houses, bridges, vehicles and power projects were badly damaged.
Officials said the flood may have started when ice and rocks collapsed into a river.
Authorities reported nearly 1,500 people missing across Nepal and Tibet, including almost 800 foreigners.
Nepal reported at least 162 deaths, with police warning the toll could rise beyond 165.
China said glacial-collapse mudslides in Tibet left three dead and 558 missing, including 260 foreigners.
More than 5,000 Nepali army and police personnel joined helicopter searches and emergency supply deliveries.
Floodwaters destroyed roads, homes, bridges and infrastructure after an ice-and-rock landslide entered the Lhende River.
- Who
- Residents, workers, trekkers and pilgrims in Nepal and Tibet were affected, including foreign visitors; Nepali and Chinese authorities reported the casualties.
- What
- Catastrophic flash floods and mudslides caused deaths, widespread destruction and nearly 1,500 reported disappearances.
- When
- The disaster struck on Wednesday, with casualty and rescue updates reported on Thursday.
- Where
- The flooding affected communities along the Nepal-China border, including Gyirong in Tibet, Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, and the Lhende River.
- Why
- Nepal disaster officials said an ice-and-rock landslide likely triggered a debris-carrying flood in the Lhende River; early reports had considered an earthquake as a possible cause.
Early Earthquake Theory
Landslide and Debris-Flow Explanation
Cause of the flooding
Early Earthquake Theory
Early reports citing Nepali officials suggested that an earthquake might have caused the lower part of a glacier to collapse.
Landslide and Debris-Flow Explanation
The United States Geological Survey said the reported magnitude-4.4 seismic signal was generated by collapsing glacial rock and ice, followed by a debris flow; Nepali officials also cited satellite evidence of an ice-and-rock landslide.
Scale of the missing-person count
Early Earthquake Theory
Earlier reports listed 403 people missing in Nepal, including 341 foreigners, and 558 missing in Tibet.
Landslide and Debris-Flow Explanation
Later Nepali and Chinese figures produced a broader estimate of nearly 1,500 missing across both regions, while Reuters separately reported 826 missing in Nepal and 558 in Tibet.
Missing Indian nationals
Early Earthquake Theory
Earlier figures cited 133 missing Indians, while another preliminary report listed 105 Indian nationals and 37 non-resident Indians.
Landslide and Debris-Flow Explanation
Nepal's foreign minister later said at least 300 Indian nationals were missing, while Reuters reported 177 missing Indian tourists; the reports did not reconcile these figures.
- Reported missing
- Nearly 1,500 people, including almost 800 foreigners, were reported missing across Nepal and Tibet.
- Nepal casualties
- At least 162 people were reported killed; police said the toll could rise beyond 165.
- Tibet casualties
- China reported three deaths and 558 missing people in Gyirong county.
- Foreigners missing in Tibet
- CCTV reported that 260 of the 558 missing people were foreign nationals.
- Nepal missing figures
- Nepal police and tourism officials reported 826 missing people, including almost 500 foreigners.
- Rescue deployment
- More than 5,000 army and police personnel participated in rescue operations, retrieving 125 people, including 20 foreigners, on Thursday.
- Damage
- Floodwaters destroyed or damaged homes, roads, bridges, vehicles, power projects and other infrastructure.
