Nepal: Deadly Flash Floods – August 26, 2026, No. 1

Country: Nepal Source: CORUS International Please refer to the attached file. Key figures • 157+ deaths1 • 400+ missing • 10, 000 households in need Highlights • 26 August 2026: A glacial lake outburst flood on the Bhote Koshi River struck around 09: 00am local time, sending a wall of water through communities without warning • The government has declared Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading disaster crisis zones following extreme flooding in the three districts • Buildings, roads, homes, and bridges have been swept through and destroyed • 12 power plants damaged causing significant disruption to electricity supply • Search operations are under way on both sides of the border • The death toll is expected to rise significantly in the coming days • Current affected areas include Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan Situation Overview On 26 August 2026, a massive flash flood surged down the Bhote Koshi River from the Tibet Autonomous Region in China into Nepal’s Rasuwa district before cascading downstream through Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan. Assessments are still going on to determine the cause of the flooding. Initial assessments point to a glacial lake outburst flood, potentially triggered by an earthquake recorded that morning ~100 km north-northwest of Kathmandu. Entire settlements, including Timure, Syaphrubesi, Hakubesi, Mailung, and Shantibazar in Rasuwa, and Betrawati and Trishuli Bazaar in Nuwakot, have been inundated or sustained significant damage. The flooding also damaged the Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border, causing casualties and missing persons on both sides of the border. Evacuation orders are in place along the Trishuli River corridor covering parts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan. The Nepal Army and other security forces are conducting emergency search, rescue, evacuation, and relief operations, including helicopter airlifts of survivors and deployment of medical teams. Access to several affected areas remains constrained by damaged roads and high water levels.

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