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Thursday, 27 August 2026dailybeirut.com
World
A flash flood along the Nepal-Tibet border killed at least 157 people on Wednesday, with over 484 missing and rescue operations hampered by landslides, blocked rivers, and inaccessible terrain.
A flash flood struck the mountainous border region of the Himalayas between Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region on Wednesday, claiming the lives of at least 157 people. Authorities on both sides warned that the death toll could rise further amid widespread destruction caused by the deluge.
The cause of the glacial mass collapse remains unclear. Nepali officials noted that an earthquake occurred minutes before the flood and may have contributed to the catastrophe. Geological evidence points to a collapse of the lower section of the Lendi Glacier in Nepal, which feeds into the Lendi River—a waterway flowing through both Nepal and Tibet. However, Nepali geologist Prakash Pokharel stated: “It is still unclear whether the earthquake was the cause of the disaster.”
Floodwaters submerged roads, bridges, homes, and hydropower projects across Nepal’s border areas. A major landslide hit the Gyirong land port—the primary overland crossing with Tibet—cutting off road access, telecommunications, and power lines in the zone. The Lendi River remains obstructed upstream, prompting authorities to issue warnings of a possible secondary flood event.
At least 484 people are unaccounted for, including 105 Indians, 93 Nepalis, three Americans, and 12 Britons. The fate of eight South Koreans working at a hydropower station remains unknown. Also among the missing are 17 Malaysians, four South Africans, one Australian, and one Dutch national.
Nepali police and military personnel joined search-and-rescue efforts, though officials confirmed that dedicated rescue helicopters cannot land in some affected zones until floodwaters recede. Residents in low-lying areas are being relocated to safer locations, while those living along riverbanks have been placed on high alert. China deployed no fewer than 574 rescuers to the Gyirong crossing, but sediment deposits from the flood are impeding operations. India said it is coordinating closely with Kathmandu on relief and rescue. South Korea plans to dispatch a rapid-response team comprising government officials, firefighters, and police officers.
East Asia faces intensifying atmospheric pressure. Typhoon Nara displaced tens of thousands and submerged entire cities in southern China, while Japan and Taiwan brace for Typhoon Saodil, arriving concurrently with severe flooding that has already caused fatalities and disappearances. In Chongzuo, Guangxi—a region famed for its towering waterfalls and limestone mountains—authorities evacuated more than 15,000 people after river levels surpassed the highest recorded benchmark set in 2008. According to China Central Television (CCTV), floodwaters forced the evacuation of 54,000 people across Guangxi province.
Heavy rainfall hit southern and eastern Taiwan, prompting school and office closures and resulting in four reported disappearances. The island is preparing for the anticipated arrival of Typhoon Saodil later this week. Typhoon Nara lingered for several days over the Beibu Gulf—also known as the Gulf of Tonkin—in the northwestern part of the South China Sea, triggering torrential rain across Guangxi, Hainan, and Guangdong provinces. State media forecast continued heavy rainfall across parts of Vietnam and southern China through Wednesday, with extremely heavy rain expected in Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, and Fujian.
In Chongzuo, river overflow entered the city, submerging buildings up to roof level and reaching overhead power lines. On Monday, Chongzuo officials issued an order suspending operations at all businesses and tourist facilities and urged evacuated residents not to return to high-risk zones.
Moderate-strength Typhoon Saodil is moving toward southern Japan and northern Taiwan, expected to bring scattered heavy rainfall. Taiwan reported one fatality and four additional disappearances linked to a separate weather system affecting its south and east. Japan’s Meteorological Agency warned of destructive winds as Saodil approaches the southwestern Okinawa Islands, also forecasting strong gales and high sea waves. The storm is advancing slowly at 20 km/h, with sustained winds peaking at 162 km/h and gusts reaching 216 km/h. The agency urged residents in affected areas to maintain maximum readiness against landslides, flooding, and river surges due to torrential rain.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration expects Saodil to pass north of the island, bringing rain to northern Taiwan from late Thursday into Friday. It anticipates the typhoon’s intensity will gradually weaken and its area of destructive winds will contract. However, the administration emphasized uncertainty regarding the timing and extent of rainfall impacts. Between Sunday and Tuesday, Kaohsiung recorded nearly one meter (3.9 feet) of rainfall—exceeding totals from the devastating 2009 Morakot typhoon, which killed approximately 700 people and caused around $3 billion in damage. Saodil is projected to make landfall along Fujian Province’s southeastern coast from late Thursday to early Friday.
China’s National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center issued an orange-level marine warning—the second-highest alert—for abnormally high waves, forecasting wave heights of 7 to 12 meters in the eastern portion of the East China Sea.
