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: Three people have been killed and more than 250 are missing, state media reports. 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.
At least nine South Koreans missing after flooding, foreign ministry says
At least nine South Koreans are missing after catastrophic flooding along the China-Nepal border, according to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.
All nine are employees of two South Korean energy companies participating in the construction of a hydroelectric power plant along Nepal’s Trishuli River, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that the South Korean government is sending a joint response team to Nepal on Thursday to take care of Korean nationals there.
The heavily-affected Rasuwa municipality in Nepal hosts numerous hydropower projects on the Trishuli River. Earlier, Nepali state media reported that 60 employees of a different hydropower installation were missing after the flooding caused “severe damage” to their construction site.
Chinese responders work to open roads to aid rescue efforts
Chinese responders are still working to clear roads in Tibet’s hard-hit Gyirong county to get rescue operations underway, with efforts complicated by ongoing rain, a local military official told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
“Right now, the various loaders and excavators are being used to clear a path,” Chen Xi, of the Gyirong Border Defense Company of Tibet’s Shigatse Military sub-command, told CCTV Wednesday evening. Chen noted some units were standing by at a command center due to the risk of landslides.
“The mountain slopes around us could collapse at any time, because the road runs along steep cliffs, and … there may also be a risk of another mudslide,” Chen said.
Rescue teams are dealing with a thick layer of mud from the debris flow that swept through the area earlier. An eyewitness cited by CCTV described mud that was more than 1.5 meters thick (roughly five feet) in places.
Teams are trying to get to Gyirong border port, which video show was engulfed by an explosive mudslide this morning. Chen told CCTV that, thus far, attempts to get in touch with people inside the port had been unsuccessful.
A rescue team reached one of the townships within Gyirong county at 5pm this evening and were working to access other areas. Gyirong county has a permanent population of less than 20,000 residents, but that figure may not take into account construction personnel or other migrant workers.
Chinese authorities on Wednesday evening announced three deaths and more than 200 people missing.
As of 8 pm Wednesday evening, authorities had dispatched some 600 firefighters, with search and rescue dogs, life detectors, inflatable boats and other rescue equipment for rescue and disposal, state media said.
China has allocated roughly $17 million in natural disaster relief funds for immediate rescue and relief efforts.
What we know about the devastating flash floods
Flash floods in Nepal and a mudslide in Tibet have caused widespread devastation, with hundreds missing after floodwater swept through riverside settlements in the north of Nepal, leaving destruction in its wake.
At least 95 people have died in the disaster, Nepali police said earlier today, but that toll is expected to rise once the waters recede and the true extent of the damage becomes clear. Three people have been killed in Tibet and 265 others are missing, Chinese authorities just reported.
Here’s what we know.
What caused the flooding?
At 8:37 a.m. local time, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake was reported by US Geological Survey to have struck along the Nepal-China border, north of Kathmandu.
Around the same time, an “avalanche” of ice and rock — more like a landslide in this case — tore down a mountainside and into the Lhende Khola River, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River, which flows from China into Nepal, often through deep gorges.
Whether the quake triggered a landslide, or the earthquake-like shaking was caused by the landslide itself, is still being investigated, but a group of scientists investigating the causes believes it was the latter.
This landslide likely “released a sudden surge downstream,” said Saswata Sanyal, of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Kathmandu, a regional climate organization.
What’s the impact been?
Videos have shown the devastation unleashed by the powerful floodwaters which swept off the mountains. A major land border crossing between China and Nepal was completely overwhelmed in less than a minute, with a mudslide appearing to wipe out everything in its path, engulfing those trying to flee.
Elsewhere, footage shows torrential flood water tearing through Bidur, a town about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, bursting the banks of a river, causing multi-storey buildings to collapse and washing away a bridge.
How many people have been killed?
At least 95 people have been killed, police in Nepal’s Bagmati province said earlier today, but that is not a true indicator of the destruction. Almost 400 travelers, including hundreds of foreign nationals, have been reported missing in Nepal, the country’s tourism board said. Italy’s foreign ministry say 90 Italians in the area are missing. And 60 employees of an under-construction hydropower project in northern Nepal are also missing, according to Nepali state media.
Three people have been killed in Tibet and 265 others are missing, Chinese authorities said earlier today.
What rescue efforts are happening?
Rescue helicopters are struggling to land in the affected areas because the floodwaters are so high, Nepali authorities said earlier today, according to Reuters. However, the Nepali army posted videos of helicopters hovering just above the floodwater and buildings, so that people could clamber to safety.
China has mobilized multiple agencies to respond to the disaster in Tibet, with Chinese state media saying the top leadership quickly guided the response to the disaster, suggesting the potential severity of impact.
CNN’s Billy Stockwell, Oliver Sherwood, Laura Paddison, Ross Adkin and Simone McCarthy contributed reporting.
At least three dead and 265 missing following landslide: Chinese state media
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.
Nepal is a danger area for glacier melting as the planet heats up
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.
Gushing floodwaters leave trail of devastation through Nepal's villages
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.
Helicopter pilot who witnessed Nepal flood from air says he saw 6-meter waves
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.”
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.”
Watch the scenes of devastation he captured from the air here:
Floods a test for Nepal’s young rapper-turned-leader
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
Death toll in Nepal rises to 31, police say, but hundreds still missing
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.
People winched up from the mud and clambering off roof terraces into helicopters
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.
People flee as huge wave of floodwater engulfs Nepal-China border crossing
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.
US Embassy "deeply saddened" by deadly flood. Here's the latest international reaction
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 Nepali 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.
How important is Tibet's Gyirong border port?
Tibet’s Gyirong port, which has borne the brunt of the mudslide, is a major land border crossing between China and Nepal. Developed as a hub for trade between the two countries, Beijing sees the crossing as a node in its Belt and Road global connectivity drive.
Border police operate a checkpoint at the Himalayan port, situated more than 1800 meters above sea level.
The port typically sees hundreds of millions of dollars in annual, two-way trade. Flows accounted for nearly a third of China-Nepal trade volume in 2024, according to Chinese state agency Xinhua. Since 2017 individual travelers have also been able to pass through the port.
Gyirong port is no stranger to natural disasters. In July 2025, floods swept away the bridge connecting it with Nepal’s Rasuwa Port, suspending goods trade for roughly six months, state media reported at the time.
The port was also closed for months following a devastating earthquake in 2015.
Significant infrastructure, including an economic cooperation zone, have been built in the area since then, as China has pushed to turn the crossing into a modern logistics hub. Gyirong county, where the border port is located, has a permanent population of less than 20,000.
Authorities on Wednesday pre-emptively announced that roads leading to the port would be closed to non-emergency vehicles for seven days, according to state media. How much access is currently possible for emergency vehicles is not clear. Local media has reported communications and power outages in the area.
Death toll rises to 17 in Nepal after powerful flash flood
At least 17 have been killed and many more are unaccounted for after a violent flash flood struck near the China-Nepal border, according to local police in Nepal’s Bagmati province.
The toll is expected to rise, as hundreds of people are still missing, including foreign nationals from several countries.
Officials in China say they fear “major casualties.”
60 employees at under-construction hydro project missing: Nepal state media
Sixty employees of an under-construction hydropower project in northern Nepal are missing following the devastating flash flood that hit the region on Wednesday, according to Nepali state media.
The staff were working at the 20 MW Langtang Khola Hydroelectric Project in Rasuwa municipality near the border with China, according to RSS national news agency.
“The project was carrying out concrete construction work inside a tunnel,” it said. “The flood caused severe damage to the project.”
Rasuwa municipality is home to several hydropower projects seeking to harness the power of its fast-flowing rivers.
Red Cross deploys emergency team after deadly flash flood in Nepal
The Red Cross is deploying an emergency team with relief supplies to affected areas after a major flash flood in Nepal’s Rasuwa municipality, its regional office has said.
The Red Cross team in Nepal has “activated emergency response teams, mobilised volunteers and is deploying an emergency team with relief supplies,” the office said.
It added that the International Federation of Red Cross, which works closely with national teams in crisis situations, is “ready to support the response.”
Flash flood caused by an earthquake triggering a landslide, says Nepal’s foreign minister
The flash flood which has devastated settlements in northern Nepal was caused by an earthquake triggering a large landslide which blocked the Bhote Koshi river, according to Nepal’s foreign minister Shishir Khanal.
“An earthquake occurred at 8:37 a.m. today, and due to it, a large landslide occurred, blocking the river, which appears to have caused the flood,” Khanal said during a meeting at the House of Representatives.
The United States Geological Survey, which records earthquakes worldwide, registered a 4.4-magnitude earthquake in the region at the same time as the one referenced by Khanal.
Hundreds of tourists missing in Nepal after violent flash flood. Catch up on the latest
A deadly flash flood in Nepal has caused widespread damage to multiple settlements in the north of the country, killing several people.
Elsewhere, Tibet, an autonomous region of China, has also been impacted, with Chinese state media warning of “major casualties.” It is feared the death toll will likely rise, with search and rescue efforts currently underway.
Catch up on the latest developments here:
- Hundreds missing: Nearly 400 travelers, including hundreds of foreign nationals, have been reported missing following the massive flash flood in Nepal, the country’s tourism board has reported, citing an initial assessment. This includes foreign nationals from India, Australia, The Netherlands, South Africa, the UK and Malaysia.
- Helicopters struggling: Rescue helicopters cannot land in the affected areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in northern Nepal until the waters recede, the country’s army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet said, according to Reuters.
- Police and military join rescue: Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah said police and military are joining the rescue teams, Reuters reported. “People along the river are advised to exercise extra caution and remain alert,” he said.
- China’s Xi responds: Xi Jinping has ordered an all-out search and rescue effort to find those who are missing after a mudslide in Nepal caused “major casualties” in Tibet’s Gyirong county, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua. Relief teams in Tibet will receive supplies including tents, heating stoves, clothing and bedding, China’s state broadcaster said.
CNN’s Issy Ronald and Simone McCarthy contributed reporting.
The Himalayan region is prone to flash floods
Rescue operations are underway after a huge flash flood swept through villages in Nepal and Tibet earlier today, with fears mounting the death toll will rise.
Known as the “rooftop of the world,” the Himalayan region is prone to flash floods and landslides, with experts clear that extreme weather is becoming more frequent and intense as the human-caused climate crisis escalates.
Here are some of the biggest natural disasters in the region in recent years:
August 2025: A surge of flood water tore through a mountainous Himalayan village in northern India, leaving several people dead and dozens missing. Rescue efforts were also hampered by mudslides.
September 2024: Days of heavy monsoon rains in Nepal triggered widespread flooding and landslides across the nation, killing around 200 people and causing widespread destruction.
October 2023: More than 100 people went missing in India’s northeast after heavy rain caused a glacial lake to burst, leading to flash floods which ripped through the Himalayan state of Sikkim.
October 2021: Rains and heavy flooding killed at least 150 people in India and Nepal, causing landslides to occur, bridges and houses to collapse, and rivers to burst their banks.
September 2014: Massive flooding hit parts of the Pakistan-administered Kashmir region and across the plains of Punjab province, wreaking devastation and disaster. The flooding killed more than 400 people across India and Pakistan, and displaced tens of thousands more.
Flash flood likely caused by glacier avalanche, climate expert says
The flash flood that hit northern Nepal on Wednesday was likely caused by an avalanche from a glacier, according to an expert at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu.
The Lhende Khola River, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River, witnessed maximum flooding Wednesday, Saswata Sanyal, a disaster risk reduction specialist at the climate research group told the Associated Press.
The flood on the Lhende Khola was “triggered by an ice rock avalanche from a glacier on the Nepal side that blocked the river and released a sudden surge downstream,” Sanyal told the AP.
The Bhote Koshi river flows from China into Nepal, often through deep gorges, and ultimately, into the Ganges in India.
Last year flooding on the river killed nine people, with 24 missing, according to Reuters.
