Flash floods in Nepal, caused by a glacial collapse along the Nepal-Tibet border, have ravaged several districts, with bodies being recovered from eight districts as of August 29, 2026.
The floods were caused by a glacial collapse, which triggered an avalanche of debris that overflowed the Bhotekoshi River, leading to downstream flooding along the Trishuli River. Map indicating the path of the floods. (Satellite image from Google) | Photo Credit: S. The satellite images of areas along the Trishuli River, shown in the graphic below, display the extent of flooding and destruction caused by the floods.
The glacier, located at an altitude of roughly 17,000 feet, caused massive flooding as far as Kolpurtar, approximately 73 km away. Godhashri Buildings, bridges, and infrastructure were washed away in the aftermath of the floods, leaving several areas near the riverbanks ruined and resulting in the deaths of at least 626 people. Over 2,400 people are still missing. The Nepal Army’s Public Relations Directorate has stated that a total of 2,465 people have been evacuated so far, including 163 foreigners — specifically, 113 Indians, 26 Chinese, 15 South Koreans, 4 Germans, 2 Italians, and one each from the U.S. and Oman. Nepal needs $4 billion to $5 billion for rebuilding after the devastating flood that struck its border areas this week, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said.
Graphics: Gautam Nirmal Doshi, Godhashri S The thread of further flooding caused by a lake that formed due to the glacier collapse has also decreased as of Saturday, August 29, 2026, as Chinese authorities reported that its size appears to have shrunk.
