Hundreds of tourists, including 12 Britons, are missing after devastating floods and mudslides swept away buildings and bridges along the Nepal-Tibet border. Houses and roads were swept away in Nepal while officials in Tibet said they feared ‘major casualties’ with some missing in the county of Gyirong after a mudslide hit a land crossing between the neighbours. Terrifying footage shows a tsunami wave of flood water crashing through a town, sweeping away everything in its path in the mountainous Rasuwa region of Nepal.
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published August 26, 2026
RASUWA, Nepal — A devastating flash flood triggered by an avalanche of ice and rock has unleashed destruction across Nepal’s northern Himalayan frontier, leaving hundreds of people missing, destroying entire villages, and severing vital transport links with neighboring Tibet.
Nepalese authorities say 384 travelers have been reported missing, including 291 foreign nationals from countries such as the United Kingdom, India, the United States, Malaysia, Australia, South Africa, and the Netherlands. Among them are 12 British tourists, according to international reports.
Rescue operations are underway, but raging floodwaters and unstable terrain have made access to the worst-hit communities nearly impossible.
CCTV footage shows people running away as wall of mud and water destroys buildings in a valley at Nepal-China border, in Gyirong, Tibet region, China August 26, 2026
One clip showed the Chinese-owned Gyirong Port land crossing being annihilated by the flood
The catastrophe struck early Wednesday morning when an avalanche in the Udin Dhunga glacier region blocked the Lhende Khola before unleashing a massive torrent into the Bhote Koshi River.
The resulting flood surged through Nepal’s Rasuwa District, sweeping away homes, highways, bridges, vehicles, and several hydropower facilities within minutes. Witnesses described entire settlements disappearing beneath walls of muddy water and debris.
Authorities believe the disaster may have been caused by a glacial lake outburst or an ice-rock avalanche—hazards becoming increasingly common across the rapidly warming Himalayas.
Hundreds of Tourists Unaccounted For
The Nepal Tourism Board said the missing travelers were registered through multiple trekking and travel agencies operating in the Langtang and Rasuwa region, one of Nepal’s most popular destinations for international hikers and pilgrims.
Officials confirmed the preliminary missing list includes:
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291 foreign nationals
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93 Nepali citizens
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Visitors from more than half a dozen countries, including at least 12 Britons
Authorities cautioned that the figures remain provisional as agencies continue verifying travelers’ locations.
Several people have been killed by the flash floods, with many more casualties expected to be reported
Hundreds of people are missing following the deadly floods in Nepal, which swept away large pieces of infrastructure
Rescue Efforts Hampered by Extreme Conditions
Nepal’s army has deployed 14 helicopters, police units, and specialized disaster-response teams, but helicopters have been unable to land in several areas because river levels remain dangerously high.
Government spokespersons said Nepal has requested assistance from both India and China as emergency crews attempt to reach isolated communities along the Bhote Koshi corridor.
Residents living downstream have been ordered to evacuate riverbanks immediately as officials warn that additional surges remain possible.
Houses lie partially submerged in muddy water along a riverside after flash floods at Trishuli Bazar in Nepal’s Nuwakot district on August 26, 2026
Damaged houses and vehicles are seen in the aftermath of flash floods along the Trishuli River in Nepal’s Nuwakot district, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 202
Critical Infrastructure Destroyed
The flood has crippled one of Nepal’s most important mountain transport corridors.
Officials report widespread damage to:
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Highways linking Nepal and Tibet
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Multiple suspension and steel bridges
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Seven hydropower projects
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Electricity infrastructure affecting more than 430 megawatts of generation capacity
Power outages have spread across parts of northern Nepal, while communications near the Gyirong border crossing in Tibet have also been disrupted.
People watch floodwaters sweeping through Trishuli Bazar following a flash flood, in Nuwakot district, Nepal, 26 August 2026
Houses lie partially submerged in muddy water along a riverside after flash floods at Trishuli Bazar in Nepal’s Nuwakot district on August 26, 2026
🧩 Bottom Line:
Nepal is confronting one of its worst mountain disasters in recent years. With 384 people still missing, including hundreds of international tourists, the tragedy has evolved from a natural disaster into a multinational humanitarian emergency. As rescue teams battle dangerous conditions and families await news of loved ones, the catastrophe underscores the growing vulnerability of Himalayan communities to climate-driven extreme events.
SOURCES: DAILYMAIL ONLINE – Hundreds of tourists missing including 12 Brits as flash flooding triggered by earthquake sweeps away buildings and bridges in Nepal
ITIJ – Hundreds missing after Nepal flash flood, including 291 foreign tourists
THE UK INDEPENDENT – Hundreds of foreign nationals missing in Nepal flash floods as death toll rises to 17
THE UK SUN – ‘NO ESCAPE’ ‘At least 12 Brits’ among 400 missing after horror flash floods wipe out villages & huge mudslide hits border crossing
