Nepal Flash Flood Leaves 384 Missing Near Tibet Border
At least 384 travellers remain missing following a catastrophic flash flood along the Nepal-Tibet border, which struck after an earthquake triggered an avalanche in the Bhote Koshi river area on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Foreign tourists, pilgrims, and security personnel are among those unaccounted for as rescue teams struggle to reach isolated mountain zones cut off by damaged infrastructure.
Nepal‘s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told parliament that preliminary information indicated an earthquake struck the area at around 8:37 am local time, sparking an avalanche that caused the flash floods. The Nepal Tourism Board confirmed that the missing group comprises 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali citizens.
Among the foreign nationals reported missing are 105 Indian citizens, 12 British nationals, and three US citizens. The affected region sits on a heavily traveled route to Kailash Manasarovar in Tibet, drawing hundreds of Hindu pilgrims at this time of year. Police confirmed that at least 17 people died in the disaster, with broader police reports indicating the wider death toll has risen to 157 as recovery operations continue.
The missing individuals also include 26 police officers, nine armed police personnel, 44 military personnel, and local customs and immigration officials. Infrastructure across the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts has suffered extensive damage, severing roads, bridges, communications networks, and hydropower facilities. Khanal stated that Kathmandu is coordinating relief efforts with authorities in China following significant damage reported across the border in Tibet.
