Devastating Flash Floods in Nepal Kill 19, 384 Tourists Missing

The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal, which borders Tibet, continues to rise. To date, 19 people have been confirmed dead.

“So far 19 bodies have been found. We are coordinating intensively in rescue and relief efforts. Many of our police personnel are also out of contact,” said local police spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle, as reported by AFP on Wednesday (26/8/2026).

More than 380 tourists, mostly foreign nationals, are missing after flash floods struck the border region with Tibet. Images shared by Nepalese police showed torrential floodwaters flowing through rivers and sweeping away homes.

“Preliminary inter-agency records received from tourism and travel companies have identified 384 tourists, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepalese citizens, reported missing from the affected area,” said the Nepal Tourism Board.

Authorities are working to verify the whereabouts of these tourists. The floods struck Syabrubesi, the starting point of the popular Langtang trekking route, as well as other areas used by Hindu pilgrims heading to Kailash Mansarovar.

A police spokesman earlier said authorities did not yet know the full extent of the damage. However, they warned residents living near riverbanks to evacuate immediately.

It was previously reported that the flash floods, accompanied by mud, damaged roads, bridges and power plant projects in the Himalayan nation. Severe damage was reported in areas of Nepal close to Tibet.

Nepalese authorities, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday (26/8/2026), deployed several helicopters for rescue operations on Wednesday (26/8) local time. The areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous Rasuwa district, home to 50,000 people, were the worst affected.

However, local officials said the floodwaters were preventing helicopters from landing. Nepalese authorities warned of the risk of many more casualties from the flash floods.

“There is a possibility of many casualties or property losses. However, I cannot confirm this at the moment,” local district administrator Narendra Piyar told Reuters.