Nepal Flash Floods Appeal

On 26 August, a major flash flood struck Nepal, near the border with Tibet. Homes, roads, bridges and buildings were swept away, while power and communications infrastructure suffered significant damage. Communities across the mountainous region have been cut off, making rescue efforts and access to support more difficult.

The flood is believed to have been triggered by a glacier collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border. Mud, ice and rock reportedly surged into the Bhote Koshi River from the Tibet side of the border, creating a powerful torrent that travelled downstream through communities in both Nepal and Tibet.

Villages including Manakamana and Khadga Bhanjyang were among the hardest hit, with reports suggesting some settlements have been almost completely destroyed.

As search and recovery efforts continue, at least 350 people have been killed and more than 900 are missing. The area is popular with mountaineering tourists and pilgrims, and reports indicate that many of those still unaccounted for are foreign nationals.

Across the border in Tibet, at least 558 people are also reported missing and three deaths have been confirmed, although it is not yet clear whether these figures overlap with those reported in Nepal.

Many thousands of people are believed to have lost or damaged homes and are likely to require urgent shelter support.

Army and police teams are leading search and rescue operations, with helicopters being used to search for survivors and deliver emergency supplies. However, remote mountain terrain, damaged roads and destroyed bridges are creating significant challenges in reaching affected communities.

Authorities have warned that rising water levels could still threaten downstream areas, while experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) have raised concerns about the risk of secondary flooding caused by debris that has entered river systems.