A large avalanche on the border between Nepal and Tibet on August 26, 2026 resulted in the death of 95 individuals and left hundreds of people missing, devastating villages and tourist regions.
The Nepal Tourism Board confirmed that 384 travelers present in the country, of which 341 are foreigners, are missing after the flood. The Nepalese Army has managed to rescue 88 people so far.
Although the affected area is not densely populated, it represents a crucial strategic point. The region connects diverse communities, is home to hydroelectric plants and, notably, includes a vital border post between Nepal and China, which controls Tibet. This post is one of the main entry and exit routes for those traveling between the two countries.
The area is also located in the Himalayas, the largest mountain range on the planet, which makes it susceptible to extreme natural phenomena.
Surrounded by rivers, the region was hit by a sudden slide of ice and rocks. Local authorities raise the hypothesis that an earthquake that occurred hours earlier in the area may have caused the collapse.
District administrator Narendra Pariyar warned that “there could be many casualties or loss of property” and advised residents on the banks of the Trishuli river to move to higher ground.
Images taken by residents and tourists, as well as local TV broadcasts, captured the moment the avalanche covered the area, burying entire villages, buildings and even a checkpoint.
Almost 400 missing after border disaster
In one of the visual records, it is possible to see dozens of homes completely destroyed by the force of the flood, vehicles swept away and a metal bridge being carried away by the current of the Trishuli River.
Witnesses reported that the waters invaded and swallowed entire villages.
In Gyirong County, Tibet, a landslide hit an important land crossing between Nepal and China. Several people are missing, including eight South Koreans who worked at a hydroelectric plant in the region.
An official Chinese news agency reported that the event occurred on the Nepalese side, impacting the local port and disrupting roads, communications and power supplies in the Shigatse area.
The mountainous district of Rasuwa, in Nepal, with approximately 50,000 inhabitants, was one of the hardest hit. Rescue operations with helicopters encountered difficulties in landing in the affected locations.
A health worker in Rasuwa, Tula Bahadur BK, said “there is devastation everywhere. The settlements near the river have been completely destroyed. Five of my relatives are missing.”
Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah assured that police and military are mobilized and joining the rescue efforts.
The exact cause of the flooding has not yet been clarified. However, a similar flood on the same river the previous year was later attributed to the emptying of a glacial lake.
