Live: Hundreds missing, including Australians, in deadly Himalayan flash floods

Grave fears are held for hundreds of people missing after flash floods swept through mountainous parts of Nepal and Tibet.The death toll has already risen to 100, as a Nepali tourism official says dozens of Australians are among those unaccounted for in the Himalayan region popular with tourists.Follow live.Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 6:50amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 6:50amExperts warn of possible second flood due to river blockageThe International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, an intergovernmental body set up by the eight countries in the Himalayan region, has issued a warning that a second flood may be on the cards.Qianggong Zhang, the centre's head of climate and environmental risks, told the Agence France-Presse wire service that "a blockage still lodged upstream on the Nepal-China border river" means water levels could begin to rise again.Authorities in India's Bihar state have begun evacuating up to 12,000 people from six districts, fearing further floods in that region.Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 6:39amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 6:39amAustralian embassy urges citizens to follow advice of Nepali authoritiesThe Australian embassy in Nepal has issued a joint statement, alongside the embassies of other nations, encouraging foreign citizens in the affected areas to follow the guidance and safety advice of local authorities."Our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster," the statement said."We express our solidarity with the people of Nepal during this difficult time."Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 6:36amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 6:36amWhat caused the Himalayan flash flood?There are conflicting reports as to what was likely the primary cause of the flash flooding, but a picture is beginning to emerge.Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal initially told the country's parliament an earthquake had triggered an avalanche, which caused the sudden flooding of the Bhote Koshi river in Nepal's Rasuwa district.The German Research Centre for Geosciences said there was a magnitude-4.4 quake just minutes before the water struck border communities.Climate experts at the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, however, said a collapsing glacier on the Nepali side of the border was likely the primary cause, blocking the river then releasing a sudden surge downstream.The same region also saw flash floods in August last year, when a glacial lake in Tibet overflowed because of high temperatures.Nepal's disaster authority is now saying satellite data indicates a "snow-rock landslide" on the border triggered the flood, which would be consistent with both glacier melt and an earthquake as a triggering event.Glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region are melting at an accelerating rate due to climate change, with ice loss rates doubling since 2000.Reporting with Reuters, APThu 27 Aug 2026 at 6:03amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 6:03amAerial footage shows devastation caused by Himalayan flash floodThu 27 Aug 2026 at 5:53amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 5:53amDeath toll rises to at least 160, according to police, state mediaPolice in Nepal are reporting at least 157 bodies have been recovered on the Nepalese side of the border, with hundreds of people still missing.A Nepali police spokesman has told The Associated Press at least 28 police officials are among those unaccounted for.On the Tibetan side of the border, in Gyirong County, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV is reporting at least three people are dead and 265 are missing.Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 5:48amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 5:48am34 Australians among missing, Nepali tourism official saysA Nepali tourism official says 403 people, including 341 foreign nationals, have been reported missing since the flash flood struck the Nepal-Tibet border.A list provided by Sunil Sharma, a tourism board spokesman, puts the number of missing Australians at 34.Also missing are 133 people from India who were on a pilgrimage to a Hindu sacred site, as well as 47 Americans, 33 Brits and 24 Canadians.Eight South Korean citizens who were working on a hydropower plant in the region are also unaccounted for.We're working to confirm the number of missing Australians. DFAT is yet to respond to a request for comment.Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 5:30amThu 27 Aug 2026 at 5:30amWelcome to our live blogGood morning. We're launching a blog to cover the aftermath of a massive flash flood at the border between Nepal and Tibet.Stay with us as we bring you updates throughout the day.