Nepal flash flood kills at least 16 people, 384 tourists out of contact

In Nepal, a huge flash ⁠flood swept away villages, killing at least 16 people and damaging roads, bridges and power projects in areas near Tibet, authorities said. The waters were too high in Nepal’s affected areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous district of Rasuwa, with a population of about 50,000, officials said on Wednesday. As the flood swept through Nepal’s northern Rasuwa district, videos shared by Nepal Police and others on social media showed torrents of muddy water crashing through mountain valleys.

भोटेकोसी नदी रसुवामा तिब्बत तर्फबाट ठुलो बाढी प्रवेश गरेकोले अर्को सूचना नआउँदासम्म त्रीशुली नदीको तटिय क्षेत्रका जिल्लाहरु नुवाकोट, धादिङ, चितवन, गोरखा लगायतका स्थानहरूमा उच्च सतर्कता सहित सुरक्षित स्थानमा रहन अनुरोध छ। pic.twitter.com/Zun6icZZCM

— Nepal Police (@NepalPoliceHQ) August 26, 2026

“There could be heavy casualties or loss of property,” district administrator Narendra ‌Pariyar told the Reuters news agency. “But I cannot say for sure now.” Pariyar urged those living on the banks of the Bhote Koshi River in the area to seek higher ground, pointing to reports that nearby villages and infrastructure project sites were washed away.

#MassiveFloodsHitNepal

Villages, roads and bridges have been swept away in floodwaters in areas near Nepal’s border with Tibet. The situation has caused widespread damage, with rescue and relief efforts expected to face major challenges. #Nepal #Floods pic.twitter.com/ay61bTzG2S

— Gummalla Lakshmana (@GUMMALLALAKSHM3) August 26, 2026

Prime Minister Balendra Shah convened an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority to take stock of the situation.“Work has started to take necessary steps in coordination with the medical team, scouts, and Red Cross,” Shah said in a social media post. The Nepal Army said it had deployed helicopters and disaster response personnel to the affected area. The ⁠Bhote Koshi River originates in Tibet ⁠and empties into Nepal’s Trishuli River that eventually flows into India as the Gandak River. The Nepal Electricity Authority said about 430 megawatts of production capacity, including from hydropower and solar facilities, have been damaged. “The disaster has damaged the production, transmission and distribution facilities of the Authority … resulting in disruption of electricity supply,” it said. Several highways were also closed, authorities said.

At least 384 tourists, including 291 foreigners, out of contact after flash floods, mudslides hit near border port with China, says Nepal Tourism Board. Among them including 105 Indians tourists. Across the border, Tibet reported “major casualties” with people missing in the neighbouring county of Gyirong after a mudslide ⁠hit a land crossing between China and Nepal, the Xinhua official news agency said. The mudslide hit China’s Gyirong port, cutting off roads, communications and power in the Shigatse region, Xinhua added, without giving details.President Xi Jinping urged “all-out” efforts to search ⁠for the missing, and ⁠called for strengthening monitoring and early warning systems to prevent secondary disasters.