{
  "id": 3520400,
  "title": "Massive flood near Tibet border kills at least 95 in Nepal: police",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/massive-flood-near-tibet-border-kills-at-least-95-in-nepal-police",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T14:08:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2025415/massive-flood-near-tibet-border-kills-at-least-95-in-nepal-police"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At least 95 individuals lost their lives in Nepal on Wednesday after a powerful flood swept through the border region with Tibet, according to a police spokesman. Abi Narayan Kafle, the spokesman, reported that 95 deaths have been confirmed, with 28 police personnel currently missing. Hundreds of tourists remain unreachable, having been affected hours after the disaster struck. A river burst its banks, sending a torrent of mud and debris into nearby buildings, prompting an urgent search for survivors. Chinese state media revealed \"major casualties\" on the Chinese side of the border at a Tibet trade hub, and President Xi Jinping ordered a comprehensive rescue operation.\n\nRaju Bhadel, a 56-year-old resident, shared his harrowing experience with AFP. His entire house was swept away, and while three family members were rescued, his brother remains missing. The preliminary death toll in Nepal rose to at least 19, but 384 tourists—291 foreigners—were still unaccounted for eight hours following the incident. The tourism board in Nepal disclosed that the missing tourists included Americans, Indians, Australians, Malaysians, and Britons.\n\nImages shared by Nepali police depicted the force of the floodwater as it tore through the river, uprooting houses in its path. AFP imagery showed the upper floor of a house protruding from the mud. Kafle advised that people residing near riverside areas be relocated. The Nepal Army dispatched helicopters and disaster response personnel to the affected area, while the Nepal Electricity Authority reported that approximately 430 megawatts of production capacity, encompassing hydroelectric and solar power plants, had been damaged, leading to an electricity supply disruption.\n\nSarthak Shrestha, a remote sensing and geo-information analyst at the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), conducted a preliminary assessment and found no anomalies on the Chinese side of the border. He theorized that a rock-ice avalanche triggered the flood event, which blocked the Lhende river, causing the cascading flood situation. Mudslide risks were heightened, as several highways were closed by Nepali authorities. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday that a mudslide disaster on the Nepalese side had resulted in major casualties and missing people at the Gyirong Port in Tibet. Unverified footage shared by the broadcaster displayed rushing water carrying tree branches and debris, along with a flooded road. China's leader acknowledged the urgent need to search for and rescue the missing, treat injured individuals, and minimize casualties to the greatest extent possible, according to CCTV.\n\nNepal has experienced monsoon rains from June to September that regularly trigger deadly floods and landslides. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region, according to experts. Qianggong Zhang, head of climate and environmental risks at ICIMOD, warned that a second flood may be imminent, as authorities continue to warn of the potential for another flood due to a blockage still lodged upstream on the Nepal-China border river.",
  "summary": "At least 95 people were killed in Nepal on Wednesday after a massive flood tore through the border region with Tibet, a police spokesman told AFP . “So far, 95 deaths have been reported,” spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle said, adding that some 28 police personnel were also missing. Hundreds of tourists were still out of contact hours after the disaster hit. A torrent of mud and debris burst from the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Nepal floods kill at least 19 people with hundreds missing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/nepal-floods-kill-at-least-19-people-with-hundreds-missing",
        "published": "2026-08-26T13:02:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}