At least 17 people have died and hundreds are missing after devastating flash floods hit northern Nepal and parts of Tibet in China, sweeping away homes and roads and causing extensive damage to bridges and energy infrastructure.

According to Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Shishir Kanaal, the disaster was caused by an earthquake that triggered a major landslide, blocking the Bhote Koshi River and subsequently causing the devastating floods.

“An earthquake occurred today at 8:37 a.m. local time, and as a result, a major landslide blocked the river, apparently causing the flooding,” Kanaal said during a session of the House of Representatives.

BREAKING: New footage shows absolutely horrifying scenes along the China-Nepal border amid devastating flash floods, hundreds missing, many feared dead pic.twitter.com/hwXTz8IzjP

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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a magnitude 4.4 earthquake in the area at roughly the same time reported by the Nepalese minister.

Authorities warn that the death toll could rise significantly, while Chinese officials have expressed fears of “heavy losses.”

🇳🇵 | 🚨 – Devastating flooding has hit Nepal. pic.twitter.com/QV0WIFGctV

— Flashpoint (@Flashpo1nts) August 26, 2026

384 tourists missing

Homes and roads were swept away in Nepal, while people are also missing in Tibet’s Gyirong County after the landslide struck a border crossing between the two countries.

According to officials, 384 tourists are missing, including 291 foreign nationals from countries such as India, the United States, the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

The situation is particularly difficult in the areas of Syapru Besi and Timure, in the mountainous Rasuwa district, which is home to around 50,000 people. Rescue helicopters cannot land because of the extent of the flooding, with the river rising far beyond its normal course.

Television footage showed homes collapsing into raging floodwaters, cars being swept away and a metal bridge being carried off by the current. Eyewitnesses told Reuters that entire villages were submerged.

“There could be many casualties or major property damage,” warned district administrator Narendra Pariyar, urging residents along the Bhote Koshi to move to higher ground.

“There is devastation wherever you look”

A health worker in Rasuwa described the scale of the devastation.

“There is devastation wherever you look. The settlements beside the river have been completely swept away. Five of my relatives are missing,” he told Reuters.

A Nepalese army spokesman said the country’s rescue helicopters would be unable to land in the affected areas until the floodwaters recede.

China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported that the landslide on the Nepalese side affected the Gyirong border crossing, cutting roads, telecommunications and electricity supplies in the Shigatse area near the border.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “every possible effort” to locate those missing and urged authorities to strengthen monitoring and early-warning systems to prevent secondary disasters.

60 workers missing at hydroelectric project

Meanwhile, 60 workers at a hydroelectric project under construction in northern Nepal are missing following the floods, according to Nepalese state media.

The workers were employed at the 20-megawatt Langtang Khola hydroelectric project in Rasuwa, near the Chinese border, according to Nepal’s national news agency RSS.

“The project was carrying out concrete work inside a tunnel. The flooding caused severe damage to the project,” the agency reported.

Rasuwa is home to several hydroelectric projects that harness the powerful rivers flowing through the mountainous region.

Overall, according to Nepal’s Energy Ministry, power-generation facilities with a combined capacity of 430 MW were affected, mainly hydroelectric projects. That represents more than 12% of Nepal’s total hydropower capacity, which stands at approximately 3.2 GW.

Army and police join rescue operations

Police and the army are participating in rescue operations, according to Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

“Instructions have been issued to move people living in low-lying areas to safer locations,” he said. “People living along the river are urged to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant.”

The Bhote Koshi originates in Tibet and flows into Nepal’s Trishuli River, which subsequently enters India as the Gandak River.

Last year, flooding on the Bhote Koshi killed nine people and swept away the so-called “Friendship Bridge,” which connects Nepal and China, disrupting trade and transportation for months. That disaster was reportedly caused by the sudden drainage of a glacial lake in Tibet, according to a regional climate-monitoring organization.

Red Cross deploys emergency team

The Red Cross said it is deploying an emergency response team and humanitarian aid to areas of Rasuwa affected by the floods.

“Communities are urged to remain vigilant and follow official safety instructions,” the Red Cross Asia-Pacific regional office said in a post, alongside video showing raging floodwaters moving through a building.

The Nepal Red Cross team has activated emergency response teams, mobilized volunteers and deployed an emergency team with essential supplies.

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which works closely with national societies during crises, said it is ready to support the rescue and relief operations.