On August 26, flash floods struck Rasuwa district in northern Nepal’s Bagmati
province, sweeping villages, markets and infrastructure. The Nepal Tourism Board
said at least 16 people have died and 384 tourists are missing, including 93
Nepalis and the remainder foreign nationals. Scientists’ preliminary assessment
is that an icefall blocked the Lende River, forming a temporary dam that later
breached; investigators say the cause remains under review. Damage to roads,
bridges, communications and power have hampered rescue operations and water
levels in the mountains remain high, delaying a full accounting of casualties
and property losses. A local resident said the event near the Nepal–China border
may be the largest in decades and could be linked to glacier melt.
