On Wednesday, August 27th, 2026, a massive flash flood caused by a suspected glacial lake outburst upstream in Tibet swept through regions spanning Nepal and Tibet in China, killing about 180 people and leaving at least 1,400 missing.

The floodwaters devastated Nepal’s Nuwakot district, where residents like Lal Bahadur Rai reported floodwaters reaching within 10 metres of their homes, sweeping away many houses and even a school. In the city of Bidur, located on the banks of the Trishuli river, students at Trishuli Secondary School were forced to evacuate as floodwaters surged downstream from the Bhotekoshi river.

Nepal Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle stated that search and rescue teams had recovered 95 bodies by late Wednesday. Senior superintendent Rajendra Prasad Dhamala, overseeing operations in Bagmati province, noted that most bodies were found in downstream areas.

Infrastructure suffered severe damage, with Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Office announcing that 19 vehicle bridges and 43 kilometers of highway connecting lower Himalayan regions to affected areas were swept away.

Prime Minister Balen Shah called for national unity amid the crisis, urging local groups, businesses, volunteers, and citizens across Nepal to support the government’s relief and rescue efforts.

Sources