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Melting ice, unstable terrain, landslides, river blockages, sudden lake releases, and extreme weather can all combine in unpredictable ways.
A screenshot of CCTV footage shows the moment that a massive mudslide engulfed the town of Gyirong in Tibet, China, Aug. 26, 2026.
For Nepali people, August 26 started like any other day, just another routine morning for the communities in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan. But there is a saying in Nepal: “Disaster won’t come by making noise.” On Wednesday, people experienced that reality ruthlessly.
By midday, that ordinary morning had turned into a nightmare. A sudden flood that crashed down from the northern side of the border devastated multiple districts of Nepal. The customs office of the Nepal-China border, Syaphrubeshi, Betrawati, Timure, and Trisuli area in Rasuwa district all suffered extensive damage. Entire villages were swept away. The floodwaters then rushed toward the Trishuli River, threatening more settlements in the areas of Nuwakot and Dhading.
