Nepal glacier collapse floods kill 675; rescue efforts continue for 2,400+ missing

A glacier collapsed near the Langtang Lirung peak in the Himalayas, and in the seconds it took to disintegrate, it set in motion a catastrophe that would kill at least 675 people across Nepal and leave more than 2,400 others unaccounted for. Drone footage authenticated by BBC Verify captures the moment—plumes of dust rising from the snow-covered mountains above 7,200 meters—before the full weight of what happened became clear downstream. The floodwaters that followed surged down the Trishuli and Bhote Koshi Rivers with such force that they traveled 62 miles in a single surge, obliterating villages and communities that had no warning of what was coming.

What initially appeared to be an earthquake turned out to be something more specific and, in its way, more terrible. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed that a glacier or part of a glacier had simply disintegrated. When the collapsed mass hit the valley floor, the impact registered as a magnitude 5.2 seismic event—powerful enough to be mistaken for an earthquake, but actually the signature of ice and rock meeting earth at catastrophic speed. The floodwaters and debris that followed were so voluminous and so fast that they devastated towns popular with mountaineers and pilgrims across northern Nepal.

Among those missing are 320 foreign nationals, according to Nepal's tourism board. On the Tibetan side of the border alone, Chinese state media reports 261 foreigners unaccounted for, representing 23 different countries. The breakdown reads like a roster of global tourism: 104 Nepalis, 49 Indians, 33 Latvians, 18 Americans, 15 British nationals, six Australians, six Canadians, and dozens of others from nations ranging from Malaysia to Portugal. The scale of the international presence speaks to how popular this region is for trekking and mountaineering—and how many families across the world are now waiting for news.

Sumi Adhikari from Sydney is one of those missing. Her husband, Nava Pandey, has traveled to Nepal and is pleading for coordination between Chinese and Nepalese authorities. "Families should not be left without answers during such a critical time," he said, asking for regular updates and direct communication from officials. Reshma Patel from Newcastle in New South Wales is also missing from the same tour group. Her husband, Bhavin Patel, flew to Nepal as well and believes phone data suggests his wife crossed into Tibet. He has appealed to Australia, Nepal, and China for urgent coordination in search efforts in the Gyirong area. Six Australians are among those missing on the Chinese side, according to Chinese state media, though the Australian government is still working to establish exactly how many of the 41 or 42 unaccounted-for Australian citizens fall into which jurisdiction.

Rescue efforts have now stretched into their fifth day, complicated by terrain, weather, and the sheer scale of the disaster. At the Trishuli-3 'A' hydropower facility, rescuers have managed to drill a hole into one of the cable tunnels, but an initial inspection found no debris and no communication with anyone inside. The hope is to enlarge the hole enough for a person to enter and access the main tunnel. At Trishuli-3 'B', rescue operations are also underway. Specialist teams from China and India have joined Nepalese rescuers, but progress is being hampered by continuous rain and rising water flow. Nepal's energy minister, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, said rescuers would attempt to work through the night, but acknowledged that worsening conditions could force a suspension of efforts.

The danger is not over. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development has warned that secondary flooding could occur in the coming days as debris continues to block sections of the river systems. If the Trishuli River has been temporarily dammed by debris in narrow sections, it could form a landslide dam and trigger a second flood. Rescuers are assessing these risks even as they search for the trapped and missing, racing against weather that shows no sign of improving and against the simple mathematics of time—each hour that passes is another hour that those trapped in tunnels or lost in the mountains have been without help.