The floods in Nepal and the landslide in Tibet caused widespread destruction, with hundreds of people missing, as the floodwaters "swallowed" entire villages, leaving only ruins in their wake. As the hours pass, the number of dead, injured, and missing continues to rise.

At least 157 people have lost their lives, and the number is expected to rise as water levels recede. The number of missing tourists now stands at 579, according to the latest figures confirmed by the Nepalese police. Of the missing tourists, 466 are foreigners from 28 different countries. The 113 missing tourists are Nepalese, 54 are from the U.S., and 33 are from the U.K.

Meanwhile, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there have been no reports so far of Cypriots in the area.

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

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Theories about the flood

Nepal’s foreign minister stated that initial assessments indicated the cause of the floods was an earthquake that triggered a landslide, which blocked the Bote Ko River. However, the U.S. Geological Survey announced that a tremor was detected in the area that was not an earthquake but was caused by a landslide. The tremor was recorded as equivalent to a 5.2 Richter-scale earthquake.

The Bote Kosi River originates in Tibet and flows into Nepal’s Trisuli River, which ultimately empties into India as the Gandak River.

SEE ALSO: Images of destruction from the deadly floods in Nepal: Dozens dead, hundreds of foreign tourists missing

The landslide most likely took the form of “an avalanche of ice and rocks originating from a glacier on the Nepalese side, which blocked the river and caused a sudden flood,” according to an expert from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu who spoke to CNN.

A massive flash flood in the Himalayan border areas of Nepal washed away villages, damaging roads, bridges, and power projects, with authorities fearing more casualties, as hundreds of people were provisionally reported missing.

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“Most people assume that flash floods are caused by heavy rainfall, but in Nepal and Tibet, as well as in many other high-altitude regions, they can be the result of complex chains of events,” Liz Stevens, a professor at the University of Reading, told the BBC.

It will take weeks to determine the exact causes of the flood, but a team of international scientists believes that a massive chunk of glacier broke off and fell into the valley. “What’s hard to explain is the enormous volumes of water we see in the terrifying videos,” said Daniel Sugar, a geologist at the University of California.

Their theory is that a rockslide occurred at the same time the glacier broke off, creating a mixture of ice and rocks moving at high speed. As it descended, it also swept up sediment that was already saturated with water due to the monsoons, which contributed to the formation of the enormous volume of water.

This isn’t a scene from a movie…. Frightening visuals are coming in #From Nepal… Western – Eastern Champaran, Saran, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamadi, and Shivhar districts are on high are on alert…. In the Valmikinaagar area, a #a 3-meter-high flash flood is reportedly on its way… pic.twitter.com/P4c1wtPylg

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“My family was swept away by the floodwaters right before my eyes”

“My family members were swept away by the flood right before my eyes,” Kalpana Mala from the Nuwakot district of Nepal tells the BBC.

She says her father, mother, sister, and her sister’s children were swept away and are missing. “They couldn’t escape the flood. There was no chance,” she says.

“This flood took everything, but my son and I climbed onto the roof of a house and survived—though we couldn’t explain how,” she adds. Mala’s son says he saved his mother by pulling her by the hand.

READ ALSO: Shocking videos: The moment massive waves sweep away everything in Nepal

Another woman, Goma Pandit, says she has lost her cattle. “My farmland was washed away. Ten sacks of mustard seeds, tons of corn, and my rice field have vanished. There’s nothing left,” she said. A health worker in Rasuwa described the extent of the destruction. “There is devastation everywhere you look. The villages along the river have been completely swept away. Five of my relatives are missing,” he told Reuters.

This isn’t a scene from a movie…. Shocking visuals are coming in #from Nepal… western Bihar – Eastern Champaran, Saran, Gopalganj, Mujffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamadi, and Shivhar districts are on are on alert…. In the Valmikinaagar area, #a 3-meter-high flash flood is reportedly on the way… pic.twitter.com/P4c1wtPylg

— Garima Bharti (@GarimaBharti19) August 26, 2026

The Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that a landslide on the Nepalese side struck the Gyirong border crossing, cutting off roads, telecommunications, and power in the Shigatse region, near the border.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “every possible effort” be made to locate the missing, and that monitoring and early-warning systems be strengthened to prevent secondary disasters.

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

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60 Workers Missing at Hydroelectric Project

Meanwhile, 60 workers at a hydroelectric project under construction in northern Nepal are missing following the floods. The workers were employed at the 20-MW Langtang Khola hydroelectric project in the Rasuwa district near the border with China, according to the national news agency RSS.

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

Rasuwa is home to several hydroelectric projects that harness the swift-flowing rivers of the mountainous region. In total, according to Nepal’s Ministry of Energy, power generation facilities with a capacity of 430 MW were affected, primarily hydroelectric projects. This represents more than 12% of the country’s total hydroelectric capacity, which amounts to approximately 3.2 GW.

“In the face of such a disaster, we must all remain united,”

The police and military are participating in rescue operations, according to Nepal’s Prime Minister, Balendra Shah.

“Instructions have been given to evacuate people living in low-lying areas to safer locations,” he said. “People along the river are urged to be especially careful and remain on alert.”

“I ask you to be patient. The government has taken full charge of rescue operations, the provision of medical care, as well as your shelter and food. In the face of such a disaster, we must all remain united,” Shah said.

Source: Proto Thema