Scores killed in Nepal-Tibet floods, well over 1,000 missing

**Hundreds Killed and More Than 1,300 Missing After Floods on Nepal‑Tibet Border**

*Kathmandu and Beijing, 27 August 2026* – A massive mudslide and flash flood that struck the Himalayan border between Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region on 26 August has killed at least 177 people and left more than 1,300 individuals unaccounted for, according to authorities in both countries.

The disaster began when a wall of mud, rocks and water surged into the Bhote Koshi river (known as Lhende Khola on the Tibetan side). The surge destroyed homes, roads and infrastructure in Nepal’s Rasuwa district and damaged the Gyirong border crossing and surrounding facilities in Tibet.

**Casualties and Missing Persons**

– Confirmed deaths: 177 (combined Nepal and Chinese reports).
– Missing: Approximately 1,300, including 341 foreign nationals reported by Nepalese officials.
– Nationalities among the missing: 133 Indian pilgrims traveling to Mount Kailash, 47 United States citizens, 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 24 Canadians.

**Cause of the Event**

Nepal’s foreign minister, Shisir Khanal, told parliament that a local earthquake may have triggered an avalanche, which in turn caused the flooding. The German Research Centre for Geosciences identified a magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurring about seven minutes before the mudslide was captured on security footage. Qianggong Zhang, head of climate and environmental risks at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, described the incident as an ice‑and‑rock avalanche entering the river, though he noted that the precise cause had not yet been confirmed.

**Impact on Infrastructure**

– Nepal’s Energy Ministry reported damage to hydroelectric projects affecting roughly 430 MW of generation capacity, about 12 % of the country’s total hydro‑power output of 3.2 GW.
– In Tibet, the mudslide reached the Gyirong port, disrupting roads, communication networks and electricity links in the Shigatse region.
– Rescue helicopters were unable to land in the hardest‑hit areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in Rasuwa district, where the river was far above its normal level.

**Response Efforts**

– Nepal’s prime minister, Balendra Shah, ordered police and military units to join rescue operations and urged residents of low‑lying areas to relocate to higher ground.
– The Nepalese army deployed helicopters to retrieve people trapped in mud and debris.
– Chinese authorities dispatched at least 574 rescuers to the Gyirong border crossing; a CCTV‑reported rescuer said it could take up to four hours to reach affected sites due to sediment up to 1.5 m deep.
– India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, expressed readiness to provide humanitarian assistance, and an Indian aircraft with relief supplies was on standby for rapid deployment.

**Warnings and Future Risks**

Both Nepalese and Chinese officials warned that a blockage remaining upstream could trigger a secondary flood. Qianggong Zhang cautioned that the situation remains fluid and that further monitoring is essential.

The Bhote Koshi river originates in Tibet, flows into Nepal’s Trishuli river, and eventually joins the Gandak river system in India, raising concerns for downstream communities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where flood warnings have been issued.

The disaster is ongoing, and authorities continue to search for survivors and assess the full extent of damage. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Article and image source: chinanationalnews.com