More than 1,000 people have died and over 3,900 remain missing after a devastating flash flood swept through Nepal's Rasuwa district near the Tibet border on 26 August. The missing include hundreds of tourists, trekkers, and pilgrims from over 39 countries. At least five additional fatalities have been reported on the Chinese side of the border in Tibet.
The flood was caused by a major glacier and rock collapse near the Nepal-China border, which sent a surge of water, mud, and debris through the Bhote Koshi river system. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force deployed across affected areas, using helicopters to reach isolated communities.
A fresh flood warning was issued on 28 August after water levels rose at the disaster site. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported an increased flow of water, debris, and mud in the Bhote Koshi River. This new danger is linked to a barrier lake formed near the Nepal-China border, which Chinese authorities warned contained approximately 2 million cubic metres of water.
Authorities are closely monitoring the lake, as a sudden breach could send another large volume of water and debris downstream into already devastated areas. Residents, rescuers, and others in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors have been asked to remain on high alert. The main road to Kathmandu, a crucial commercial and passenger corridor, is currently closed.