Canadians among hundreds missing after deadly Nepal-Tibet flash flood kills at least 150
Dozens of Canadians are among hundreds of people reported missing after a devastating flash flood swept through Nepal’s Rasuwa district near the Tibet border.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in the border area between Nepal and China, according to the BBC. Video clips shared online show the powerful floodwaters crashing into buildings and bridges, sweeping vehicles and people away.
Flood waters hit Rasuwa, a district north of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, near the Chinese border. The district includes border areas of Timure and Syaphurebsi, which were among the hardest hit.
Nepal officials say that so far over 150 people have been killed, with hundreds more missing, including nearly 350 foreign nationals. According to NPR, Nepal Tourism Board states that among those missing were 133 people from India, 47 from the U.S., 34 from Australia, 33 from the U.K., and 24 from Canada.
The Rasuwagadhi Border Bridge in 2025 (AP Tolang/Shutterstock)
CCTV footage shows people fleeing as flash floods crash into the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.
A horrific scene of severe flooding at the Rasuwagadhi border point on the Nepal-Tibet border.
The strong currents wreaked havoc across the area, leaving 400 pilgrims and 105 Indian tourists also missing in the Nepal floods.#NepalFloods #Nepal #Rasuwa #FlashFlood #Floods pic.twitter.com/dwAX12Gj7l— Ravi Pandey🇮🇳 (@ravipandey2643) August 26, 2026
One clip filmed inside a bus shows terrified children screaming as a wall of floodwater surges along a river, while people run away from its path.
THE TERRIFYING MOMENT FLOOD WATERS HIT NEPAL
Heart goes out to those traumatized school children. What a horrific sight to endure. pic.twitter.com/T1vAEH1qVM
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) August 26, 2026
Another clip shows flooding in the Nuwakot district.
बाढीले यसरी बगायो नुवाकोटको त्रिशुली बजार।#everyonefollowers pic.twitter.com/V9IUOfA8md
— Nirmal Prasai🇳🇵 (@NirmalPrasai5) August 26, 2026
Experts at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Kathmandu said the flash flood was likely caused by an avalanche from a glacier. In August 2025, the region was hit with similar flash floods after a glacial lake in Tibet overflowed due to high temperatures, killing nine people and damaging a bridge connecting Nepal and China.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Mark Carney called the incident “absolutely devastating” and urged Canadians in the region to sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) “as soon as possible.”
The flash floods along Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River are absolutely devastating.
Canadians are thinking of all those in distress right now, those who have lost a loved one, and all those who are still waiting for answers.
Our government is closely following the situation and…
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) August 26, 2026
On Wednesday, the Government of Canada issued travel advisory updates for Nepal and China, warning Canadians of the incident.
“A severe flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River has washed away villages and left several casualties and hundreds missing in the Syapru Besi and Timure areas of Rasuwa district,” reads the statement. “Roads and infrastructure have been damaged.”
The advisory for the China-Nepal border area states that mudslides have washed away parts of the border crossing.
According to the BBC, Wednesday’s incident has been the worst disaster to hit Nepal since a 2015 earthquake killed 9,000 people.
Daily Hive has reached out to Global Affairs for comment.