Hundreds missing, including tourists, after Tibet-Nepal flood

A violent flash flood at the border between Nepal and China tore through a checkpoint and left hundreds missing, including 291 foreigners who were identified by local authorities.

The mudslide struck at around 8:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, according to preliminary data released by the Nepal Tourism Board, with a total of 384 travelers unaccounted for — including citizens of the US, India, the UK, the Netherlands and Australia — along with 93 Nepalis. A police spokesman told AFP that at least 19 people were killed.

The disaster spread to Tibet’s Gyirong county, with videos circulating online showing the torrent of mud and water sweep through the area. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out rescue effort in Tibet, in what could become one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country this year.

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In response, Xi stressed the immediate priority was to spare no effort in searching for persons who are missing, as well as relocating and resettling any threatened residents, according to a statement on the government website.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his Nepali counterpart and conveyed his condolences, according to a post on X. “India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to Nepal,” he said. “Our teams are coordinating closely on rescue and relief efforts.”

Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal. 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…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 26, 2026

The mudslide caused significant casualties and missing persons at the border crossing in Gyirong, a county administered by Shigatse city in Tibet, according to the Beijing News. China’s Foreign Ministry didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment sent after office hours Wednesday.

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Many Indian nationals in the area were undertaking the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Tibet, sites considered sacred by Hindus and Buddhists, according to the Press Trust of India.

Xi urged local governments and relevant agencies to prepare for worst-case scenarios, strengthen flood and typhoon control measures, and step up inspections of potential hazards.

© 2026 Bloomberg

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