A destructive flash flood occurred on the 26th of August 2026 through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli Rivers. This caused massive damage and left a trail of destruction across Northern Nepal.
The flood started at approximately 8.30AM sending a high volume of water from Tibet which caused a massive build up of mud and debris through settlements near the Nepal-China border.
What Caused the Flood?
The reason for why the flood occurred is still being investigated. However the leading theory is that an ice and rock avalanche had blocked the Lhende Khola River, causing water to build up before the avalanche broke which caused a massive surge of water to enter the Bhote Koshi River. An earthquake of 4.4 magnitude was also recorded around the same time of the incident in which many experts theorise was the cause of the avalanche.
Another possibility which has been put forward is that a glacial or supraglacial lake also burst which could have caused the flooding as the region is prone to such incidents. However the exact reason is still unconfirmed and the exact sequence has yet to be put forward.
384 Travellers Reported Missing
According to a report sent out by The Nepal Tourism Board 384 travellers are currently reported missing or unaccounted for. These include both foreign and Nepali nationals. The foreign nationals include citizens from India, the UK, USA, Malaysia, Australia, South Africa and the Netherlands, while some nationalities remain unconfirmed.
Importantly, being listed as missing doesn’t automatically mean that the people are deceased. The Tourism Board, Tourist Police, security agencies, local authorities, guides and travel companies are still verifying their whereabouts.
Deaths and Rescue Efforts
At least 7 deaths have been confirmed with the toll rising to 9 from further reports as of Wednesday. The Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have launched search-and-rescue operations, including helicopter searches. With the help of search-and-rescue operations at least 25 people had been rescued by Wednesday.
Rescue attempts have been made harder as the flood caused major damage to key roads, bridges, and communication networks
Search for the Missing Continues
Authorities continue to search for missing travellers with the help of tourism agencies, guides, local officials and security forces. The full scale of the destruction caused is still increasing as more reports come in.
People are also advised to contact the nearest police or security authority, local administration, and or travel agency. If you are not able to visit or contact them you can ask for assistance or report any information you have please use the numbers below:
Toll-free: 1234
Hotline: 1144
Tourist Police: 9851289445
As rescue teams continue to help with search and rescue, the priorities remain in finding missing people, rescuing those stranded, supporting affected communities and determining the full cause and extent of the disaster.
Our thoughts remain to all who are affected by the floods and hope for the safe return of all those who are missing. We extend our gratitude and admiration to all the rescuers and individuals who are helping tirelessly to find and assist those affected.