Continuing from the last post: a hydrologist said one thing that struck him was the lack of rainfall before the disaster .
“That defeats essentially every operational flood warning system in the world,” Hatim Sharif at the University of Texas San Antonio told AFP. By the time you saw the mud flow coming, it was too late, he said.
“Running will not help,” nor will trying to flee by vehicle, Sharif added, because the mud and water moving at high speed form a lethal combination “like liquid concrete”.
A researcher at the UK’s University of Reading, Dorothy Heinrich , said: “In these mountain environments, the rivers can be quite narrow in areas.” Anything that blocked them – be it an avalanche or landslide – would lead to a “big accumulation of water, then it creates these incredibly fast floods”.
What do scientists know so far about Nepal's deadly floods?
Lethal surges of mud and water that hit “like liquid concrete” are nearly impossible to predict and cannot be outrun .
The cause of the landslide and flood along the Nepal-Tibet border isn’t yet certain but experts say the risk of such events is compounded by the extreme topography of the Himalayas.
It is too soon to draw any firm links to climate change, but there are well-documented trends in the “roof of the world” that have increased the likelihood of such hazards, Agence France-Presse is reporting.
Nepal’s foreign minister said an earthquake likely triggered a landslide that in turn blocked a river, sending water gushing downstream after it eventually breached the obstruction.
But the US Geological Survey said that while the event was initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, “additional analysis of long period seismic waves indicate that the seismic energy was instead generated by a landslide”.
A preliminary assessment by the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development found “no anomalies” from the Chinese side of the border.
“We believe a rock-ice avalanche occurred in Nepal, blocking the Lhende river and causing the cascading flood event,” said Sarthak Shrestha , a remote sensing and geo information analyst with the intergovernmental institute.
Australia’s prime minister has said 34 Australians are missing after the deadly flood.
Confirming a toll reported earlier , Anthony Albanese also said getting information from Nepal was “difficult”.
He said the government was liaising with local authorities and tour operators to confirm the welfare of Australians in Nepal.
Our thoughts are with all those who will be concerned about their loved ones today.
Verified videos of the disaster showed dozens of people swept away at the Nepal-Tibet border, with authorities on both sides fearing far higher casualties and huge destruction .
Houses, roads and power projects were washed away in Nepal, while officials in Tibet said they feared “major casualties” after a mudslide hit a border land crossing in the county of Gyirong.
“It was a huge gush of mud coming straight towards us,” said Keshav Prasad Baral , a 68-year-old survivor, who was being treated at a small hospital. “As it got closer, it kept rising higher and higher.
When I saw it enter our home, I tried to grab my wife’s hand and take her to the terrace. But she was swept away by the mud.
Four or five hours later, a helicopter came to rescue me. My wife is still somewhere beneath the mud. She’s gone
Another survivor, also quoted by Reuters, described being saved by clinging to a mango tree as he watched the house where he had been working disappear.
Nine South Koreans missing after flood, says government
Nine South Koreans working on a hydropower plant are missing and 10 others stranded after the deadly flash flood , South Korea’s foreign ministry is saying.
The workers were employed by Korea Energy and Doosan Enerbility Co, the ministry said, adding that Nepal had deployed a rescue team to search the affected area.
South Korean foreign minister Cho Hyun held an emergency meeting with government officials and said a team of police, emergency services and foreign ministry officials would fly to Kathmandu on Thursday, the ministry said late on Wednesday.
Cho planned to hold a phone call with his Nepalese counterpart on Thursday, it said, cited by Reuters.
Another 10 South Korean workers affiliated with Doosan Enerbility were stranded in the area and awaiting a helicopter sent by Nepalese authorities to evacuate them.
UN teams sending flood aid to Nepal, Guterres says
United Nations chief António Guterres has said UN teams and partners are mobilising supplies and personnel in Nepal to support communities affected by the deadly flood.
“My solidarity is with all those affected, he said on X.
Among those missing are 34 Australians, Reuters reports.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told AAP they were liaising with local authorities as well as tour operators and stood ready to provide consular assistance.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by the significant flooding in Nepal and Tibet, China,” the spokesperson said.
“We are aware of a number of Australians in the area and Australian officials are urgently working to confirm their welfare.”
Dozens of Australian tourists are reportedly missing in the deadly flash floods that swept through the Nepal-Tibet border, as the Australian government says it is urgently working to confirm their welfare.
According to the Nepal Tourist Board, as reported by Press Association, at least 403 people have been reported missing, with 341 foreign nationals unaccounted for.
According to the tourist board, 203 of the missing are male and 200 female.
Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, said: “The loss of life and destruction caused by flash flooding in Nepal and China is devastating. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those killed or missing and all affected by this disaster.
“Dfat officials are urgently working to confirm the welfare of Australians in the area.”
Related: Dozens of Australians believed to be among hundreds of foreign tourists missing in Nepal flash floods
Sunil Sharma, a tourism board spokesman, said 133 of those missing were from India on pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, sacred site for Hindus.
Also among the missing were 47 people from the US, 34 from Australia, and 24 from Canada, he added.
Among the missing British nationals are three men aged 65, 64 and 52, and seven women aged 44, 47, 51, 60, 63, 63 and 65, according to travel logs obtained by the Press Association.
Nepal police have so far confirmed a total of 33 British nationals are unaccounted for in the country.
The US state department is aware of Americans impacted by the floods in Nepal and is closely tracking the situation and stands ready to provide assistance.
The embassy is working closely with local tour agencies and local authorities to assist Americans in the affected areas.
US citizens in the affected areas have been urged to monitor local news, follow the emergency instructions provided by local authorities, and enroll in STEP.state.gov to receive important emergency information.
US citizens who need urgent assistance related to the Rasuwa flooding should call the US Embassy at +977-1-423-4000. For local search-and-rescue assistance or call Nepal’s disaster hotline at 1234.
Official figures suggest at this stage that at least 291 foreigners are among the missing.
Hikers and climbers from around the world flock to the Himalayan nation to test themselves on some of the world’s highest peaks, Mount Everest among them.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 142 nationals from neighbouring India are missing.
The missing Indians were in the country with three travel agencies: Samrat Tours + Travels, Leaf Holiday and Himalayan Glacier.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said Nepal’s Tourist Police had informed them that they considered 53 Ukrainian nationals to be missing.
They included a group of 46 Ukrainian tourists with whom the authorities in Nepal had lost contact, the ministry added.
Seventeen Malaysians travelling with Fishtail Tours + Travels were missing in the floods, the board said.
Malaysia’s foreign ministry said its embassy in Kathmandu had received reports from travel agencies suggesting they had lost contact with 11 Malaysian nationals believed to be in the Rasuwa district.
Twelve UK citizens with the Alpine Eco Trek agency are unaccounted for, the tourism board said.
South Korean officials confirmed eight hydropower workers are out of contact in the Rasuwa district following the floods.
Four South Africans travelling with the same Alpine Eco Trek agency as the missing British citizens were missing, according to the tourism board.
Three US citizens, also with Fishtail Tours + Travels, are unaccounted for, the board said.
A Portuguese woman is missing in the floods, the country’s foreign ministry told AFP.
One Australian with Kathmandu Holiday Tours + Travel is missing, according to the board.
A Dutch citizen travelling with the same company as the missing Australian is also unaccounted for, the board added.
The Italian foreign ministry said two of its nationals and their guide are stranded upstream from a landslide but are being helped.
The ministry is aware of 90 Italian citizens currently in Nepal and Tibet, but does not know if any might have been affected.
Several of the tour groups also announced missing foreigners whose nationalities had not been confirmed.
They included 77 with Trekkers Society, 26 with Kailash Journey and eight with Richa Tours + Travels.
The Nepali tourism board also announced that, in addition to the unaccounted-for foreigners, a total of 93 Nepalis were missing.
Canada’s PM Mark Carney said “Canada stands ready to provide support.”
He wrote on X: “The flash floods along Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River are absolutely devastating.
“Canadians are thinking of all those in distress right now, those who have lost a loved one, and all those who are still waiting for answers.
Our government is closely following the situation and asking all Canadians in the region to register with the ROCA system as soon as possible.”
China has activated its emergency response with its armed forces initiating “full-scale rescue operations” after the floods and mudslide caused “severe casualties at China’s border port of Gyirong”.
Its response included 30,000 “relief supplies” including tents, stoves, clothing, quilts, and fold beds in addition to 120m yuan (around £13m) for post-disaster recovery.
Climate experts at the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development said an avalanche from a glacier likely caused Wednesday’s flash flood.
“Hydrological observations indicate the exceptional speed and magnitude of the flood wave,” they said in an emailed statement, noting that water levels at one point on the Trishuli river rose by as much as nine meters (27 feet) over half an hour.
The Lhende Khola River, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi, had maximum flooding, they said.
“The Lhende Khola has flooded twice in 14 months, this time triggered by an ice rock avalanche from a glacier on the Nepal side that blocked the river and released a sudden surge downstream,” said Saswata Sanyal, a disaster risk reduction specialist at the climate research group.
He noted the importance of early warnings in “a warming Himalaya.”
The region saw similar flash floods in August last year, when a glacial lake in Tibet overflowed because of high temperatures. Nine people were killed, and critical infrastructure, including a bridge connecting Nepal and China, was damaged.
WHO 'stands in solidarity' with Nepal, says director-general, and offers aid
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it “stands in solidarity” with Nepal and is working closely with Nepal’s Ministry of Health to assess Nepal’s urgent relief and resource needs.
Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X: “My thoughts are with the people impacted by the flash flood and mudslide that hit the Nepal-China border this morning.
“ @WHONepal has mobilized and dispatched essential emergency medical supplies, and provide field-level care to the affected communities. ”
Further, the WHO shared in a statement: “As part of the immediate response, WHO has mobilized and dispatched essential emergency medical supplies, including medicines and multipurpose tents, to help sustain the delivery of critical health services and provide field-level care to affected communities.”
As the full scope of damage continues to be assessed, “WHO remains committed to supporting the Government of Nepal’s response and recovery efforts,” the statement adds.
Red Cross allocates funding to support Nepal in response to flooding
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is releasing nearly 1m Swiss francs ($1.2m USD) in emergency funding to support Nepals’s response to the severe flooding disaster.
In a statement, the IFRC shared that funding will supporting the Nepal Red Cross with emergency funding, operational coordination and technical support .
“ The priority now is to reach affected communities and get assistance to people who have lost their homes, suffered injuries or have been cut off ,” said the IFRC head of delegation for Nepal, David Fisher.
The release of emergency funding means the Nepal Red Cross can act immediately while assessments continue. We are closely monitoring the situation and are ready to provide additional support if needs increase. We will not forget support for their long-term recovery either, since entire villages and market areas have been wiped out.
Nepal search and rescue efforts to continue overnight
The office of Nepal’s prime minister said search and rescue efforts by the country’s army will continue overnight , the BBC reported.
According to a statement obtained by BBC, 1,697 personnel have been deployed, while 656 have been kept on standby for additional operations.
A large number of people stranded above Timure will be evacuated by air on Thursday morning , the statement adds.
India 'stands with Nepal' in flood relief efforts, says minister
India’s external affairs minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishanka , shared that India is supporting relief efforts in Nepal, via a social media post.
“ Dispatched 10 tonnes of HADR assistance and essential medicines to support Nepal’s response to the devastating floods ,” Jaishanka said. “In face of this challenge, India stands with Nepal and its people.”
President of the European Commission , Ursula von der Leyen , offered assistance to relief and rescue efforts in Nepal amidst floods that have killed at least 157 people .
“My thoughts are with all those affected, especially the families who have lost loved ones or are still waiting for news,” Von der Leyen shared in a post to social media.
“ Copernicus [the EU’s satellite service] has been activated to help map the affected areas in Nepal and support the response on the ground. We stand ready to mobilise further European assistance ,” the posts concludes.
Here are some of the latest images coming through on the news wires in the aftermath of the appalling flash flood.
At least 157 people have been killed and hundreds, including foreign tourists, are missing after deadly flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday. An avalanche of ice and rock triggered massive flash floods that swept through parts of Nepal , causing widespread damage to villages and infrastructure.
Among the missing are 33 British nationals, with hundreds of foreign nationals still unaccounted for. “A preliminary agency-wise record received from tourism and travel companies has identified 384 travellers, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals, who were reported missing from the affected areas,” said the Nepal Tourism Board, noting authorities were working to verify the travellers’ whereabouts.
New analysis indicates there was no earthquake prior to flash flooding, according to the US Geological Survey. Despite initial reports of this natural disaster being preceded by an earthquake, further analysis indicates that a landslide preceded the powerful flash flooding and there was no earthquake, the USGS said.
Experts warned of a possible second flood. “ With a blockage still lodged upstream on the Nepal-China border river, authorities warn a second flood may occur,” Qianggong Zhang, head of climate and environmental risks, at the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, said in comments reported by Reuters.
Chinese president Xi Jinping urged “all-out” search efforts for the missing, as well as stronger monitoring and early warning systems to prevent secondary disasters. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said authorities had deployed at least 574 rescuers to the Gyirong land crossing.
Nepal’s PM urged the nation to “stand together” after the disaster. Balendra Shah urged the Himalayan nation to stand united in a post on social media: “Please be patient. The government takes full responsibility for your rescue, treatment, food and shelter. In times of such a disaster, we all need to stand together.”
Nepal police have given an update that 157 bodies have been recovered from the disaster.
Police said bodies had been recovered in the following areas:
They also said that 49 injured people were in hospital receiving treatment, and that so far more than 3,300 police officers had been deployed.
New analysis indicates there was no earthquake prior to flash flooding, says US Geological Survey
Further analysis indicates that a landslide preceded the powerful flash flooding on the Nepal-Tibet border and there was no earthquake, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) .
“ This event was initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake ,” the update on the USGS website reads. “ Additional analysis of long period seismic waves indicate that the seismic energy was instead generated by a landslide. ”
As we reported earlier, Nepali officials initially pointed to a possible earthquake in the region minutes before the landslide and flash flooding.
UK prime minister Andy Burnham has said his government will do “everything we can” to help British nationals affected by the flash flooding disaster on the Nepal-Tibet border.
There are 33 Britons among the hundreds of foreign nationals missing.
“These scenes emerging from along the Nepal-China border are devastating,” Burnham said in a statement. “My thoughts are with all those affected, including the families and loved ones of British nationals missing in this tragedy.”
He added: “We will do everything we can to support British nationals impacted in the region and are in touch with the relevant authorities to offer support.”
He urged Britons in the region to follow guidance from local authorities as well as travel advice from the UK government.
Tell us: have you been affected by the flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border?
If you’ve been affected by the flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border, we’d like to hear from you.
Please get in touch by clicking the below and filling out the form or by messaging us.
Though we’d like to hear from you, your safety and security are most important. When recording or sharing your content with us, please put your welfare and the welfare of others first. Extreme weather events can be very unpredictable and carry very real risks.
Please share your story if you are 18 or over, anonymously if you wish.
Related: Tell us: have you been affected by the flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border?
CCTV footage from the border between Nepal and China shows a mudslide engulfing a crossing point.
People were seen attempting to flee moments before buildings and vehicles were submerged in mud and water in Tibet’s Gyirong County .
Drone footage of flash floods show severe damage to villages along the banks of the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal .
Warning: Some viewers may find the following footage distressing.
The Press Association is now reporting that 33 Britons are among the foreign nationals missing after the flash flooding on the Nepal-Tibet border.
Foreign secretary Ed Miliband said: “I am deeply concerned to hear of the flash floods on the Nepal-China border.
“All my thoughts are with those affected and with British nationals in the area and their relatives here at home.”
A deadly flash flood near Nepal’s border with Tibet on Wednesday may have been triggered when the lower part of a glacier broke off and crashed on to the valley floor hundreds of metres below, experts said citing satellite imagery from Planet Labs.
It was not clear what caused the glacier to collapse, but Nepali officials have pointed to an earthquake in the region minutes earlier as a possibility, Reuters reported.
Before-and-after satellite imagery of the region from Planet Labs, reviewed by Reuters, showed lush green mountainside now buried under brown debris and sediment.
“It’s confirmed that a substantial portion of that glacier snout collapsed to initiate the event – probably including or entraining a fair amount of rock and sediment,” said Vikram Gupta, who specialises in engineering geology and teaches at India’s Sikkim University.
Hundreds of tourists among missing, including more than 140 from India
Hundreds of tourists in Nepal, many of them foreigners, have gone missing in the Himalayan nation’s devastating flash floods on Wednesday, which have killed at least 95 people.
Hours after the disaster tore through the border region with Tibet, 403 visitors, including 341 foreign nationals, were still unaccounted for, according to the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation.
In its second situation update posted on X, the Nepal Tourism Board gave a tally of 384 missing travellers, 291 of them non-Nepalis. Many of the foreign tourists’ nationalities were yet to be confirmed.
Here is a list of the confirmed nationalities of foreigners currently missing:
China says at least three dead and 265 missing in mudslide in Tibet's Gyirong
At least three people have died, with 265 others missing, following a mudslide in Tibet’s Gyirong on Wednesday, China’s state broadcaster CCTV said, citing authorities’ preliminary tally.
The exact number of casualties is still being verified, CCTV said.
These are the first casualty figures provided for the Chinese side of the border.
Twelve UK citizens, including a 13-year-old girl, and two Irish nationals are feared missing after a flash flood in the Rasuwa region of Nepal, the tour operator leading the excursion has said.
Alpine Eco Trek, which offers guided tours and expeditions in Nepal, confirmed that 12 British nationals on its tour across the Nepal-Tibet border were missing on Wednesday.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has urged Britons in Nepal to follow local authority advice, as 12 UK nationals are feared missing after a flash flood.
The department posted a statement from parliamentary under secretary of state Rosie Winterton on X:
Heartbreaking to see the loss and damage caused by the Rasuwa flood in Nepal. Sending our thoughts to all those affected by the disaster.
We are working closely with the Nepalese authorities following concerning reports of British nationals who are missing.
We encourage British nationals in Nepal to follow guidance from the local authorities and remain alert to the changing situation.
The FCDO also said those seeking consular assistance should call (+44) (0)207 008 5000 or (+977) (0)14237100.
Nepal PM urges nation to 'stand together' after deadly flood
Nepal’s prime minister Balendra Shah urged the Himalayan nation to stand united after devastating flood on Wednesday killed at least 95 people.
“The pain and loss you have suffered is not small. But I want to assure you that you are not alone in this difficult time – the state is with you with all its means and resources,” Shah said in a statement posted to social media.
“Please be patient. The government takes full responsibility for your rescue, treatment, food and shelter. In times of such a disaster, we all need to stand together.”
Ninety-five people reported to have died, police say
The death toll from the flash flood that struck the Himalayan border region of Nepal and China’s Tibet on Wednesday has risen to 95, Reuters reports police saying.
Fifty-five people reported to have died, according to local media
Reuters reports, citing local media, that 55 bodies have been recovered , with hundreds still missing after an avalanche triggers deadly flash floods in Nepal. We haven’t been able to independently verify this but will let you know when we have more.
At least one Australian is missing in the disaster, according to local authorities.
Nepal’s tourism board said at least 384 tourists , including 291 foreign nationals, were reported missing by various tour companies.
One of the companies said an Australian traveller was missing.
The British embassy in Kathmandu said it is “deeply saddened” by flash floods in parts of Nepal and urged people in affected areas to follow local advice.
A joint statement with the embassies of Australia, the EU, Finland, France, Norway and Switzerland said:
We are deeply saddened by the devastating flooding in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts and surrounding areas.
Our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster. We express our solidarity with the people of Nepal during this difficult time.
We encourage all those in affected areas to follow the guidance of local authorities and official safety advisories as the situation continues to evolve.
Twenty-two bodies recovered after Nepal-Tibet flash flood, police say
A total of 22 bodies have been recovered after torrential flooding in the Himalayan border areas of Nepal and Tibet, a police official said.
The Bhotekoshi River flooded about 9 am local time on Wednesday, destroying several villages, roads and hydropower projects, officials said.
“We have asked both India and China to help us with the rescue efforts,” said Sasmit Pokharel, a spokesperson for the Nepali government.
Dozens of multi-storied buildings, trucks, and vans were buried under vast quantities of mud in the district of Nuwakot, one of the worst-affected areas.
Here are some of the latest images from the floods.
Twelve UK citizens among tourists missing after flash flooding
Twelve UK citizens are among 384 travellers missing after a flash flood in the Rasuwa region of Nepal, the country’s tourism board has said.
Hundreds of tourists, mostly foreigners, were out of contact on Wednesday in Nepal after a massive flood tore through the border region with Tibet.
“A preliminary agency-wise record received from tourism and travel companies has identified 384 travellers, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals, who were reported missing from the affected areas,” said Nepal Tourism Board, noting authorities were working to verify the travellers’ whereabouts.
They included 12 UK citizens from one tour company, with the nationalities of many others yet to be confirmed.
President Xi Jinping urged “all-out” search efforts for the missing, as well as stronger monitoring and early warning systems to prevent secondary disasters.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said authorities had deployed at least 574 rescuers to the Gyirong land crossing.
A rescuer told CCTV that it would take at least four hours for the team to reach the site due to the 1.5-metre (5 foot) deep sediment that blocked pathways leading to the affected area. The debris had surged upstream from the Nepalese side of the crossing, the rescuer said.
Security footage captured on the Chinese side of the Nepal-Tibet border showed many people fleeing before a wall of rock, mud and water destroyed buildings, vehicles and took many lives, with experts warning of a possible second flood.
The exact cause of the mudslide could not be immediately determined, but the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said there was a 4.4 magnitude quake approximately seven minutes before the time shown on the security footage time-stamp, according to Reuters.
An ice-rock avalanche in the Lhende Khola river on the Nepali side was the trigger, but the cause remains unconfirmed, said Qianggong Zhang , head of climate and environmental risks, at the Kathmandu -based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.
With a blockage still lodged upstream on the Nepal-China border river, authorities warn a second flood may occur.
Here are some images that show some of the affected areas, and the damage caused by the flooding.
You can find the full story here , but we will continue with live updates as more information comes in.
Here is aerial footage of the Nuwakot District in Nepal , showing the scale of the floods.
Hundreds missing, including foreign tourists, after deadly flash floods in Nepal
Hundreds of people were reported missing after an avalanche of ice and rock triggered massive flash floods that swept through parts of Nepal on Wednesday, killing at least eight people and causing widespread damage to villages and infrastructure.
Officials said 384 tourists , including 291 from countries including India, the United States, the United Kingdom and Malaysia, were reported missing as a result of the flash flood.
The Bhotekoshi River flooded this morning, destroying several villages as well as roads and hydropower projects, officials said. They issued warnings to residents of several of Nepal’s districts and asked them to stay away from the banks of Bhotekoshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers.
The areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous district of Rasuwa were severely affected, government officials said, while calling for extra vigilance by residents along the Bhote Koshi river.
Related: ‘Major casualties’ feared after flash floods along Nepal-Tibet border
“That defeats essentially every operational flood warning system in the world,” Hatim Sharif at the University of Texas San Antonio told AFP. By the time you saw the mud flow coming, it was too late, he said.
This report is published with credit to theguardian.com. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on theguardian.com →
Source: theguardian.com · Adam Fulton (now); Nadeem Badshah. Sharon Marris, Lucy Campbell, Tom Ambrose and Mabel Banfield-Nwachi (earlier). Published 27 Aug 2026, 12:52 am.
