Month: August 2026

A devastating flash flood has hit Nepal and Tibet this morning. Hundreds are missing and rescue teams are challenged both in Rasuwa and further downstream in Nepal, and in Gyirong, Tibet. The flash flood was first reported to have been triggered by a nearby magnitude 4.4 earthquake — this is a usual, moderate size event for the region. Later reports from USGS indicate that a major landslide or glacier collapse was the cause of the first signal, with a magnitude equivalent to M5.2. In any case, the impact of the flash flood can be assessed on the records of the seismometer tens of kilometres away: after the short initial signal, the ground was vibrating for over two hours due to the flash flood. Credits: Shiba Subedi, NAST.