Nepal and China resume flood rescue as death toll nears 600

What the report says

Rescue work has resumed in the Nepal-Tibet border region after a short pause caused by concerns that a newly formed glacial lake could trigger another flood, Al Jazeera reported on 29 August 2026. The disaster has affected districts in Nepal and parts of Tibet, with officials warning that the toll is still likely to rise as teams reach isolated areas.

According to Nepal’s disaster authority, at least 579 people have died and 1,924 remain missing in Nepal. Chinese authorities said at least five people have died in Tibet, where 558 people are also missing. The flooding began when a glacier collapsed high in the Himalayas and sent rock, debris and water down toward the Lende River before the surge spread into Nepal’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts.

Al Jazeera reported that the flood briefly pushed the Trishuli River up by 9 metres in 30 minutes. The US Geological Survey later said the seismic signal initially linked to an earthquake was actually caused by the landslide itself. Search efforts were paused when a lake formed at the collapse site and began filling, but work has now restarted after authorities judged the risk manageable.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the affected area, while President Xi Jinping called for more monitoring and coordinated rescue planning, according to state media. Aid has also come from India, the UN, the Red Cross Federation, Australia, South Korea and the US. The event highlights the growing danger of glacial hazards in the Himalayas, especially as warming temperatures increase instability around ice, debris and high-altitude lakes.