Twelve British nationals among 291 foreign tourists missing in major Nepal flash flood

By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-08-26 12:21:04 | Updated at 2026-09-07 15:23:23 1 week ago

Twelve British nationals are among almost 300 tourists missing following a devastating major flash flood in Nepal.

A wall of mud and rock appeared to collapse into a river on the Himalayan border between Nepal and Tibet, triggering catastrophic flooding on the Nepali side.

Footage posted online showed dozens of people swept away at the border, with authorities on both the Chinese and Nepalese sides fearing far higher casualties and massive destruction.

Houses, roads and power projects were swept away in Nepal, while officials in Tibet said they feared "major casualties" with some missing in the county of Gyirong after a mudslide hit a border land crossing.

At least 384 travellers, including 105 Indians, 93 Nepalis, three U.S. citizens and 12 British nationals were missing from the region, Nepal's tourism authority said.

GB News has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.

According to Nepalese police, 22 bodies have been recovered from the aftermath of the floods.

Rescue helicopters could not land in Nepal's affected areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous district of Rasuwa, with a population of about 50,000, officials said, with the river flowing above its normal course.

Buildings destroyed