The catastrophic floods in Nepal and Tibet now estimated to have killed hundreds were likely triggered by a massive glacier collapse and debris flow that registered as a magnitude 5.2 landslide, according to the U.S. Geological Service (USGS).
The USGS originally pinpointed the cause of the mudslides as a 4.4 magnitude earthquake but later updated its analysis after observing data from nearby seismic stations, long period seismic waves and satellite imagery. That data suggested that no earthquake had occurred.
Climate experts at the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development told The Associated Press that Wednesday’s flash floods were likely triggered by a glacial avalanche.
“Hydrological observations indicate the exceptional speed and magnitude of the flood wave,” they said in a statement, adding that at one point, the water levels on the Trishuli River rose by as much as 27 feet in just a half hour.
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The death toll has climbed to more than 360 people estimated to have been killed in the floods along the Nepal-China border, the AP reported, citing local police.
Rescue teams are now searching for the more than 1,400 people who went missing during the chaos. Many of them were foreigners and pilgrims.
Nepal Police on Thursday began posting lists of Nepali and foreign nationals missing. Several dozen Americans were listed.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed to Fox News that as of 8 a.m. Thursday, there are approximately 90 Americans who may have been impacted by the floods. The U.S. embassies in Nepal and China are working to assist Americans in affected areas.
“The State Department is closely monitoring the situation and has deployed a disaster response advisor to the region to support response efforts,” the spokesperson said. “The Department will also provide $500,000 in assistance through its global award with Catholic Relief Services, supporting emergency shelter, relief items, and water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance to flood-affected communities in Nepal.”
The Nepalese army rescued more than 100 people from flood-hit areas by helicopter Thursday morning, according to army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet.
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The flooding destroyed dozens of bridges and nearly 25 miles of roads, further complicating search and rescue efforts, according to Nepalese officials.
Bishal Kumar Bhandari, chairman of the Nepal Red Cross Society, told the AP that they have shifted focus to large-scale relief operations. He said that around 1,200 people were displaced from at least three villages.
Videos of the disaster showed raging floodwaters sweeping away cars, engulfing people trying to flee and destroying homes and bridges.
Debris was left tangled in tree branches and power lines, vehicles were buried and mud-covered survivors emerged as flooding cut off travel in some areas.
The village of Soley in Nuwakot, which has about 25 homes, was almost entirely destroyed, according to Kathmandu-based journalist Nirajan Paudyal, whose parents and other relatives live there. Desperate for news, he traveled to the area Thursday to check on his family.
“There is no update till now. I fear there won’t be any update,” Paudyal told the AP.
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The Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, released a message to those affected by the floods in the region.
“I am saddened to learn of the devastating floods in the Rasuwa region of Nepal and Kyirong in Tibet, resulting in loss of life and heavy structural damage,” the 91-year-old leader said in a statement. “I pray for all those who have lost their lives, and offer my sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved and to all those affected by this tragedy.”
He continued: “Since this region has seen calamities in the past as well, these are certainly symptoms of a deeper underlying cause — whether climate change or other factors. I hope that appropriate follow-up measures will be taken, wherever possible, to help ensure that such disasters do not recur.”
The disaster in Nepal and Tibet underscores a broader threat, as increasingly unstable Himalayan ice poses risks to communities, infrastructure and water supplies across one of the world’s most densely populated regions.
The region experienced similar flash flooding in August 2025, when high temperatures caused a glacial lake in Tibet to overflow. The resulting floods killed nine people and damaged critical infrastructure, including a bridge linking Nepal and China.
