Himalayan glacial collapse floods Nepal Tibet

On August 26, 2026, a glacial collapse in the Himalayas triggered catastrophic flash floods and mudslides along the Lhende Khola river system on the Nepal-China border. The disaster killed at least 162 people in Nepal and three in China — Tibet, with over 1,000 reported missing across both regions, including hundreds of foreign nationals on pilgrimages and tours. The U.S. Geological Survey initially recorded a magnitude 4.4 seismic event but later revised it to a magnitude 5.2 glacial collapse, ruling out an earthquake. Climate experts at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development attributed the flood to an ice-rock avalanche from a glacier on the Nepal side that blocked the river and released a sudden surge. This is the second major flood in the region in 14 months, highlighting the accelerating melting of Himalayan glaciers due to climate change. The disaster has severely damaged infrastructure, including roads and bridges, disrupting travel and economic activity in the region.