RASUWA — At least 18 people have been killed in flash floods and mudslides along the Nepal-Tibet border. Nearly 400 people are unaccounted for following the disaster.

The Nepalese Army has rescued 88 people so far. Search operations are underway on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border. Rescue efforts are underway for 115 people in the village of Mailung, Nepal Army Spokesman Rajarm Basnet said.

High waters prevented helicopters from landing in the affected areas of Syabrubesi and Timure in Rasuwa district. Strong winds are making it difficult for helicopters to reach inspection sites on the Tibetan side where road access is cut off, businessman Guan Daoxuan said.

Chinese state media reported casualties in Tibet's Gyirong county after a mudslide hit the land crossing between China and Nepal. The mudslide in Tibet cut off roads, communications, and power in the Shigatse region.

Why It Matters

The scale of the disaster involves nearly 400 unaccounted individuals across an international border, affecting citizens from multiple countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia, South Africa, and India. The event disrupted infrastructure in the Shigatse region and isolated communities in Rasuwa district, requiring cross-border coordination for search and rescue operations.

Rasuwa is a district of Nepal that has been identified in prior geological studies as susceptible to landslides. The Nepalese Army, the land warfare branch of Nepal's military, leads the domestic response while facing environmental constraints such as high waters and strong winds that limit aerial access to affected villages.

Timeline

On August 26, 2026, at least 18 people were killed in flash floods and mudslides along the Nepal-Tibet border. Preliminary information indicated an earthquake at 08:37 local time triggered an avalanche, causing melted snow to pour into the Bhote Koshi river and result in flash flooding. Nearly 400 people remained unaccounted for following the disaster.

The Nepalese Army rescued 88 people so far on August 26, 2026. The flood occurred early on Wednesday in Rasuwa district, just north of Kathmandu.

The Nepal Tourism Board worked to establish the whereabouts of 291 tourists and 93 Nepalese nationals, including guides, who were known to be in the affected area. The missing tourists included 12 travellers from the U.K. as well as citizens of the U.S. Malaysia, South Africa, and India.

What's New

A study titled "Landslide susceptibility in Rasuwa District of central Nepal after the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake" was published in 2019 in Journal of Nepal Geological Society. Rasuwa is a district of Nepal. The Nepalese Army is the land warfare branch of Nepal's military.

Research titled "Medicinal plants used against gastrointestinal disorders by the Tamang people in Rasuwa district, central Nepal" was published in 2016 in Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science.