What happened in Nepal?

Devastating flash floods tore along the country’s northern border last week causing major damage in both Nepal and Tibet.

Homes, bridges and markets were swept away in seconds by what eyewitnesses described as a 30-metre (100 foot) wall of water and debris.

Rain and damage to infrastructure have complicated ongoing search and rescue efforts following the disaster on 26 August.

How severe was the disaster?

The full scale of both the loss of life and damage caused by the flooding is still emerging.

As of 10:10am Monday 31 August, reports from Nepal confirm:

• more than 900 people have been killed
• over 4,200 people are missing
• at least 93,000 people have been affected

“Torrents of water swept through villages without any warning and families lost everything within just a few seconds. The floods were so powerful they even tore through a major bridge and damaged villages high up in the mountains,” Golam Motasim Billah, Islamic Relief’s country director in Nepal, says.

“Survivors are desperately trying to trace their missing loved ones, while at the same time trying to find a safe place for their families to shelter and get food for their children. Power supplies have been badly damaged, plunging areas into darkness.” 

In Tibet 546 people are missing and 16 have been killed, China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday.

Where did the flooding happen?

The flooding tore along the Nepal-Tibet border, beginning about 35 miles (60 kilometres) north of the Nepali capital, Kathmandu. In Nepal, Rasuwa and Nuwakot are the worst-affected areas.

What caused the floods?

The exact cause of the flooding is still being investigated. Reports suggest the floods began after an enormous piece of glacier broke off in the Himalayas. The ice landed with such force (magnitude 5.2) that scientists initially believed there had been an earthquake.

The collapse prompted a wave of water, mud and debris to sweep through the valleys of the Lhende Khola, Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers.

Is Islamic Relief responding to the floods in Nepal?

Yes. Islamic Relief is coordinating with Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) and District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) to coordinate a response.

In the immediate term, we will provide emergency shelter and aid such as tarpaulins, blankets and mattresses to people in Rasuwa and Nuwakot.

On 28 August, our team arrived in Nuwakot and described the ‘unimaginable devastation‘ they encountered among the remnants of villages that had been overcome by the flooding.

“I saw entire communities that have been washed away. There are many dead bodies under the debris and the smell is horrific,” Iccharam Thapa Magar, Project Coordinator with Islamic Relief in Nepal, says.

“Some children are still stranded on the wrong side of the river, as they crossed the bridge to go to school but can’t return as the bridges have been washed away. They’re on their own and separated from their family. 

“Many people are still missing, and their relatives are frantically searching for any news of them. People are traumatised from the ferocity of the disaster.”

As more information emerges, Islamic Relief stands ready to scale up assistance further as needed. 

Is flooding common in Nepal?

Flooding is common in Nepal during the summer monsoon season and can lead to landslides. However, the loss of life and damage caused by last week’s floods are particularly severe.

In July 2025, flooding killed 7 people and washed away a bridge between China and Nepal that was a vital trade link.

Does climate change play a role in flooding?

Yes, climate change is contributing to an increase in the severity and frequency of flooding – as well as that of many other extreme weather events – around the world.

“While this year so far has been remarkable for extreme heat attributed to man-made climate change, in the first eight months of 2024 Islamic Relief responded to over twenty deadly floods across 15 countries in Asia and Africa,” Jamie Williams, Islamic Relief’s Senior Policy Advisor on Poverty Reduction, says.

“As global heating increases, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more devastating, with torrential rainfall, ‘super monsoons’ cyclones and typhoons leading to widespread flooding and deadly landslides in numerous countries.

“If [glacial collapse] is proved to be the cause then there will be a clear connection between global heating and this event.

“It also brings into focus the chronic crisis of glacier melt in the Himalayas which is currently leading to seasonal flooding throughout the length of rivers fed by these glaciers, and especially in the Bay of Bengal where excess waters meet tidal and weather surges causing flooding and large-scale land erosion, serial loss of livelihoods, food and water security and housing and displacement of population.

“Furthermore, the long-term prognosis for the whole subcontinent which has been dependant of water from seasonal glacial melt, is that as the glaciers recede due to global heating, the sustainability of agriculture and therefore human occupation of western Pakistan, northern India and Bangladesh is threatened.”

On Saturday, Nepal’s Foreign Minister called for a “global effort” to tackle climate change, describing it in a press conference as “one of the major challenges that Nepal and its citizens face.”

Is more flooding expected in Nepal?           

There are fears of more flooding in Nepal as the country’s monsoon season typically runs from mid-June until early September.

Nepali authorities are warning of fresh flooding in the same area after last week’s floods raised water levels in the Bhotekoshi River.

Is Nepal vulnerable to other kinds of disasters?

Nepal’s geography makes it extremely vulnerable to a number of natural disasters, many of which are increasing in severity and frequency due to climate change.

Intense monsoon rains and melting glaciers contribute to flash flooding and landslides, particularly along the Nepal-Tibet border. Nepal also experiences drought and wildfires.

Earthquakes pose major threat as Nepal sits directly above the point at which the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. This tension created the Himalayan mountain range but can also cause deadly earthquakes and avalanches.

In 2015, the Gorkha earthquake killed almost 9,000 people in Nepal.

What can people do to prepare for floods?

Individuals should look to their local authorities for specific guidance, but general advice recommends registering for weather alerts and ensuring they are aware of evacuation routes and sites in their area.

People can also prepare for the worst by gathering essential supplies and important documents in an accessible place should they need to leave home quickly, and learn how and where to shut off gas, electricity and water supplies to their homes in the event of evacuation.

What should you do to keep safe during a flood?

In the event of a flood, you must follow the advice of local authorities. Avoid contact with floodwaters wherever possible – do not walk, swim or drive through them – and, if necessary, move to higher ground.

What about in the aftermath?

Risks in the aftermath of flooding will depend heavily on the severity and location of the flood. Always follow the advice of local authorities. In some cases, flood waters may take time to recede, and evacuated persons might not be able to return home immediately.

As a rule, any food that has come into contact with floodwaters should be thrown out and people should boil water or use bottled water for household needs until usual water supplies have been declared safe. Contaminated water is a common danger in the aftermath of flooding and can lead to serious health issues if consumed.

What can we do to support people affected by flooding in Nepal?

Please donate to Islamic Relief’s Nepal Floods Emergency Appeal today.

“People urgently need aid such as shelter, ready-to-eat food, safe drinking water, and hygiene kits to stop diseases spreading. As well as the immediate loss of life, people’s livelihoods have been washed away. Communities will need long term support to recover,” Islamic Relief’s Golam says.

Islamic Relief has been working in Nepal for over a decade after first responding to the 2015 Gorkha earthquake and has a strong network of partnerships with local organisations in the country.

Tens of thousands of people have been left with nothing. Please help us to ease their suffering and provide lifesaving support following this devastating disaster now. Donate to our Nepal Floods Emergency Appeal now.