Updated 10:34 AM EDT
Wed August 26, 2026
CNN News
Here's the latest
• Many feared dead: Catastrophic flash flooding has hit China and Nepal, with at least 95 people confirmed killed. The toll is likely to rise. Hundreds of tourists, including foreign nationals, are missing.
• Nepal: The small Himalayan nation has been badly hit. Dramatic footage shows a torrent of water hitting the Nepal-China border and villages lie submerged . Helicopters have been winching stranded people from rooftops.
• In China: No toll has been given but state media is warning of “major casualties.” A mudslide hit China’s Gyirong port, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping urging “all-out” search efforts. The quick response of China’s leadership is another sign of the severity of the disaster.
• What caused the devastation? Nepal’s foreign minister said an earthquake triggered a large landslide, which in turn blocked the Bhote Koshi river, sending a torrent of water downstream from China to Nepal.
Here's the latest
• Many feared dead: Catastrophic flash flooding has hit China and Nepal, with at least 95 people confirmed killed. The toll is likely to rise. Hundreds of tourists, including foreign nationals, are missing.
• Nepal: The small Himalayan nation has been badly hit. Dramatic footage shows a torrent of water hitting the Nepal-China border and villages lie submerged . Helicopters have been winching stranded people from rooftops.
• In China: No toll has been given but state media is warning of “major casualties.” A mudslide hit China’s Gyirong port, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping urging “all-out” search efforts. The quick response of China’s leadership is another sign of the severity of the disaster.
• What caused the devastation? Nepal’s foreign minister said an earthquake triggered a large landslide, which in turn blocked the Bhote Koshi river, sending a torrent of water downstream from China to Nepal.
2 min ago
At least three dead and 265 missing following landslide: Chinese state media
By Simone McCarthy
We’ve just had the first confirmation of fatalities in China.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported Wednesday evening that the landslide in Gyirong county, Tibet had killed three people, with 265 others remaining missing.
The assessment was based on a “preliminary verification,” with the exact number of casualties still being further verified, the report said.
The toll in Nepal currently stands at 95, police say.
48 min ago
Nepal is a danger area for glacier melting as the planet heats up
By Laura Paddison
Houses lie partially submerged in muddy water along a riverside after flash floods at Trishuli Bazar in Nepal's Nuwakot district on August 26. Prabin Ranbhat/AFP/Getty Images
The cause of Nepal’s devastating flooding is not yet clear but initial reports suggest an earthquake triggered an avalanche of ice and rock.
This avalanche likely “blocked the (Bhotekoshi River) and released a sudden surge downstream,” said Saswata Sanyal, of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, a regional climate organization. “These are cascading hazards,” he added, what happens in the icy mountains can quickly flood towns downstream.
While avalanches can be caused by a number of factors, climate change often plays a role, scientists say. Nepal, in the rapidly-warming Himalayan region, is home to thousands of glaciers which are melting and destabilizing as temperatures rise.
Ice loss rates from glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya, a region which includes Nepal, have doubled since 2000, according to recent research, with enormous risks for the nearly 2 million people who live downstream of them.
Nepal is particularly vulnerable to “glacial lake outbursts,” sometimes described as inland tsunamis, where the pools of water formed by melting glaciers become so full that they burst their banks, sending water and debris cascading down steep mountainsides.
A similar flood in the same region last year was traced to a glacial lake outburst in neighbouring Tibet, but experts cannot yet tell what, if any role, an outburst may have played in the current devastating flooding.
1 hr 18 min ago
Gushing floodwaters leave trail of devastation through Nepal's villages
By Niamh Kennedy
New drone footage shows floodwaters sweeping through towns in central Nepal, leaving devastation in their wake.
In the video, captured by Indian news agency ANI, waters can be seen rushing through the district of Nuwakot. Multiple buildings along the riverbank also appear to have been submerged in mud.
Located in Nepal’s Bagmati province, Nuwakot is one of the areas hardest hit by the flash flooding. Known for its hilltop fortresses and ancient temples, Nuwakot lies roughly 35-45 miles northwest of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.
1 hr 35 min ago
Helicopter pilot who witnessed Nepal flood from air says he saw 6-meter waves
By Magdalena Sofia Vitores Moreno and Billy Stockwell
A helicopter pilot who witnessed Wednesday’s deadly flash flood from the air near the China-Nepal border said he estimated the waves to be “as high as five to six meters.”
“About five minutes before landing, we could see dust rising from the river,” Aman Budathoki told CNN. “At first instance it looked as if it was a landslide. We even guessed if it was the army using explosives for building roads.”
But within seconds, the pilot saw dark flood waters with “debris hurtling down and mixing with fresh water.”
“We could see water waves as high as five to six meters … We started circling around villages there and could see big trees along with a few vehicles being swept away,” he said. “It was a very scary situation. We even tried to chase the flood for a while just to assess the damage unfolding.”
He concluded by saying he had never witnessed the power of nature “unfold like this.”
Aerial footage shows the scale of the flash flooding in Nepal
1 hr 54 min ago
Floods a test for Nepal’s young rapper-turned-leader
Analysis by Ross Adkin
An injured man is rushed to a hospital for treatment following a flash flood at Trishuli in Nuwakot district, Nepal, August 26. Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
The devastating flash flooding to hit Nepal will be a test for the country’s young rapper-turned-prime minister who took office just five months ago following a Gen-Z led movement against corruption and nepotism that swept away establishment political parties.
Balen Shah, 36, has yet to comment publicly on the floods, which have killed at least 30, with the death toll feared to rise, and devastated infrastructure near Nepal’s border with China.
Shah was sworn in in March on a promise to clean up national politics and address widespread grievances at the lack of opportunities for young people in Nepal, which relies on remittances sent home by migrant workers for around a quarter of its GDP.
He will likely have to work with Nepal’s giant southern neighbour India, as well as China, its neighbour to the north and which has also been badly hit by the floods.
That will require a deft touch. Shah has previously made headlines for his fiercely nationalist and provocative posture towards both countries.
During his time as Kathmandu mayor in 2023, Shah canceled a scheduled trip to China after Beijing released a new standard map that did not acknowledge Nepal’s updated 2020 political map, which included some disputed Himalayan territories, local media reported.
CNN’s Rhea Mogul contributed reporting
2 hr 13 min ago
Death toll in Nepal rises to 31, police say, but hundreds still missing
By Billy Stockwell
A vehicle is covered with mud following a flash flood at Trishuli in Nuwakot district, Nepal, August 26. Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
The death toll in Nepal has risen to at least 31 after a powerful flash flood struck near the country’s border with China, according to local police in Bagmati province.
Hundreds more are unaccounted for as search and rescue efforts ramp up.
Chinese state media also warned earlier of “major casualties” in Tibet, but no official casualty figures there have so far been released.
2 hr 21 min ago
People winched up from the mud and clambering off roof terraces into helicopters
By Issy Ronald
People have clambered into helicopters from roof terraces and been winched up from the mud left behind by the floodwater, videos posted by the Nepali Army show.
Some of those rescued are covered in mud and appear injured after being battered by the flood, one video shows.
Another shows someone climbing into a helicopter, stepping from a roof terrace, onto the landing gear and then into the cockpit, after appearing to take off their t-shirt to wave and attract the aircraft’s attention.
2 hr 31 min ago
People flee as huge wave of floodwater engulfs Nepal-China border crossing
By Oliver Sherwood
Security camera footage shows the shocking moment flood water crashes through the Nepal-China border area, with people seen running away as the water appears to wipe out everything in its path.
Local police in Nepal said at least 17 people have been killed in the country, but there are fears the toll will rise. Officials in China also said they fear “major casualties” in Tibet too.
2 hr 32 min ago
US Embassy "deeply saddened" by deadly flood. Here's the latest international reaction
By Billy Stockwell
Police officers carry a survivor to a safer place following a flash flood at Trishuli in Nuwakot district, Nepal, August 26. Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
We’re starting to get some international reaction after a deadly flash flood swept through villages near the China-Nepal border.
Here is how the international community is responding:
The US Embassy in Nepal said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life caused by the flood, which struck the country’s Rasuwa district. “We extend our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster,” the embassy posted on X.
The embassy also called on US citizens to “avoid” affected areas. “US citizens in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan and Tanahun should stay away from riverbanks and low-lying areas, seek higher ground, and follow local instructions,” it said.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered an “all-out” rescue effort in response to the violent flood, according to his spokesperson. Lee asked the South Korean government to “prioritize the life and safety of the Korean people,” while cooperating with the Nepalese government and local authorities, his spokesperson said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the people of India stand in solidarity with their “sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time.” India is ready to provide “all possible humanitarian assistance” to the country, he posted on X.
CNN’s Gawon Bae contributed reporting.
Nepal is a danger area for glacier melting as the planet heats up
By Laura Paddison
Houses lie partially submerged in muddy water along a riverside after flash floods at Trishuli Bazar in Nepal's Nuwakot district on August 26. Prabin Ranbhat/AFP/Getty Images
The cause of Nepal’s devastating flooding is not yet clear but initial reports suggest an earthquake triggered an avalanche of ice and rock.
This avalanche likely “blocked the (Bhotekoshi River) and released a sudden surge downstream,” said Saswata Sanyal, of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, a regional climate organization. “These are cascading hazards,” he added, what happens in the icy mountains can quickly flood towns downstream.
While avalanches can be caused by a number of factors, climate change often plays a role, scientists say. Nepal, in the rapidly-warming Himalayan region, is home to thousands of glaciers which are melting and destabilizing as temperatures rise.
Ice loss rates from glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya, a region which includes Nepal, have doubled since 2000, according to recent research, with enormous risks for the nearly 2 million people who live downstream of them.
Nepal is particularly vulnerable to “glacial lake outbursts,” sometimes described as inland tsunamis, where the pools of water formed by melting glaciers become so full that they burst their banks, sending water and debris cascading down steep mountainsides.
A similar flood in the same region last year was traced to a glacial lake outburst in neighbouring Tibet, but experts cannot yet tell what, if any role, an outburst may have played in the current devastating flooding.
1 hr 18 min ago
Gushing floodwaters leave trail of devastation through Nepal's villages
By Niamh Kennedy
New drone footage shows floodwaters sweeping through towns in central Nepal, leaving devastation in their wake.
In the video, captured by Indian news agency ANI, waters can be seen rushing through the district of Nuwakot. Multiple buildings along the riverbank also appear to have been submerged in mud.
Located in Nepal’s Bagmati province, Nuwakot is one of the areas hardest hit by the flash flooding. Known for its hilltop fortresses and ancient temples, Nuwakot lies roughly 35-45 miles northwest of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.
1 hr 35 min ago
Helicopter pilot who witnessed Nepal flood from air says he saw 6-meter waves
By Magdalena Sofia Vitores Moreno and Billy Stockwell
A helicopter pilot who witnessed Wednesday’s deadly flash flood from the air near the China-Nepal border said he estimated the waves to be “as high as five to six meters.”
“About five minutes before landing, we could see dust rising from the river,” Aman Budathoki told CNN. “At first instance it looked as if it was a landslide. We even guessed if it was the army using explosives for building roads.”
But within seconds, the pilot saw dark flood waters with “debris hurtling down and mixing with fresh water.”
“We could see water waves as high as five to six meters … We started circling around villages there and could see big trees along with a few vehicles being swept away,” he said. “It was a very scary situation. We even tried to chase the flood for a while just to assess the damage unfolding.”
He concluded by saying he had never witnessed the power of nature “unfold like this.”
Aerial footage shows the scale of the flash flooding in Nepal
1 hr 54 min ago
Floods a test for Nepal’s young rapper-turned-leader
Analysis by Ross Adkin
An injured man is rushed to a hospital for treatment following a flash flood at Trishuli in Nuwakot district, Nepal, August 26. Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
The devastating flash flooding to hit Nepal will be a test for the country’s young rapper-turned-prime minister who took office just five months ago following a Gen-Z led movement against corruption and nepotism that swept away establishment political parties.
Balen Shah, 36, has yet to comment publicly on the floods, which have killed at least 30, with the death toll feared to rise, and devastated infrastructure near Nepal’s border with China.
Shah was sworn in in March on a promise to clean up national politics and address widespread grievances at the lack of opportunities for young people in Nepal, which relies on remittances sent home by migrant workers for around a quarter of its GDP.
He will likely have to work with Nepal’s giant southern neighbour India, as well as China, its neighbour to the north and which has also been badly hit by the floods.
That will require a deft touch. Shah has previously made headlines for his fiercely nationalist and provocative posture towards both countries.
During his time as Kathmandu mayor in 2023, Shah canceled a scheduled trip to China after Beijing released a new standard map that did not acknowledge Nepal’s updated 2020 political map, which included some disputed Himalayan territories, local media reported.
CNN’s Rhea Mogul contributed reporting
2 hr 13 min ago
Death toll in Nepal rises to 31, police say, but hundreds still missing
By Billy Stockwell
A vehicle is covered with mud following a flash flood at Trishuli in Nuwakot district, Nepal, August 26. Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
The death toll in Nepal has risen to at least 31 after a powerful flash flood struck near the country’s border with China, according to local police in Bagmati province.
Hundreds more are unaccounted for as search and rescue efforts ramp up.
Chinese state media also warned earlier of “major casualties” in Tibet, but no official casualty figures there have so far been released.
2 hr 21 min ago
People winched up from the mud and clambering off roof terraces into helicopters
By Issy Ronald
People have clambered into helicopters from roof terraces and been winched up from the mud left behind by the floodwater, videos posted by the Nepali Army show.
Some of those rescued are covered in mud and appear injured after being battered by the flood, one video shows.
Another shows someone climbing into a helicopter, stepping from a roof terrace, onto the landing gear and then into the cockpit, after appearing to take off their t-shirt to wave and attract the aircraft’s attention.
2 hr 31 min ago
People flee as huge wave of floodwater engulfs Nepal-China border crossing
By Oliver Sherwood
Security camera footage shows the shocking moment flood water crashes through the Nepal-China border area, with people seen running away as the water appears to wipe out everything in its path.
Local police in Nepal said at least 17 people have been killed in the country, but there are fears the toll will rise. Officials in China also said they fear “major casualties” in Tibet too.
2 hr 32 min ago
US Embassy "deeply saddened" by deadly flood. Here's the latest international reaction
By Billy Stockwell
Police officers carry a survivor to a safer place following a flash flood at Trishuli in Nuwakot district, Nepal, August 26. Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
We’re starting to get some international reaction after a deadly flash flood swept through villages near the China-Nepal border.
Here is how the international community is responding:
The US Embassy in Nepal said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life caused by the flood, which struck the country’s Rasuwa district. “We extend our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster,” the embassy posted on X.
The embassy also called on US citizens to “avoid” affected areas. “US citizens in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan and Tanahun should stay away from riverbanks and low-lying areas, seek higher ground, and follow local instructions,” it said.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered an “all-out” rescue effort in response to the violent flood, according to his spokesperson. Lee asked the South Korean government to “prioritize the life and safety of the Korean people,” while cooperating with the Nepalese government and local authorities, his spokesperson said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the people of India stand in solidarity with their “sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time.” India is ready to provide “all possible humanitarian assistance” to the country, he posted on X.
CNN’s Gawon Bae contributed reporting.
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