Everything We Know About Nepal’s Catastrophic Floods

An aerial view shows houses lying deluged in sludge after flash floods at Devighat, Bidur Municipality in Nepal's Nuwakot district, on Aug. 27, 2026. Prabin Ranabhat/AFP via Getty Images

WHAT HAPPENED IN NEPAL?

* A glacier collapse unleashed a huge ‌torrent of rock, ice, mud and debris through Himalayan mountain river systems across Nepal and Tibet on Aug. 26

* The collapse caused catastrophic flash floods

* At least 579 people have been killed and almost 2,500 people are still missing

* More than 90,000 people are estimated to have been affected by the disaster

HOW MANY AUSTRALIANS ARE INVOLVED?

* 41 Australians are missing

* 22 people are missing from three separate hiking tours; 15 of them were travelling with US-based tour company Himalayan Glacier Adventures

* A group of four lost contact while travelling separately

* A group of 14 family friends were on the Himalayan Glacier Adventure tour, all Hindu-Australians completing a sacred pilgrimage

* More than 300 other foreign nationals are also missing, along with more than 1,000 Nepalese

* DFAT is assisting with 43 consular cases related to the matter

IS AUSTRALIA RESPONDING?

* Nepal has accepted Australia’s offer of $5 million (US$3.6 million) in humanitarian aid

* Aid will go towards emergency kits of food and water, along with supporting Australian-based rescue and recovery organisations

* Additional personnel to support Australians affected are being sent to the region 

* Nepalese-Australian families gathered for prayers and held a minute’s silence for those lost to the floods

WHAT ARE LEADERS SAYING?

* “There was quite a bit of despair and anxiety in [the] community; we’re doing our best to support the Tibetan and Nepalese communities here in Australia.” - Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite

* “People would have seen the footage, which is a truly horrific event. At this point, Nepal is a developing country. It doesn’t have the resources that an event like that would have in Australia, so information is difficult.” - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

* “We are urgently working to identify how many Australians have been in the region and to confirm the welfare of any Australians who are not accounted for.” - Foreign Minister Penny Wong

* “The gravity of the situation is worse now because whole towns have swept away. Now there is nothing, it’s just a mudslide.” - Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre Vice President Keshav Kadel

* “We can benefit from the implementation of a warning system, similar to those triggered for tsunami warnings after 2004’s tsunami.” - University of Sydney associate professor Nader Naderpajouh

HOW TO CONTACT AUTHORITIES?

* Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Australian government 24-hour consular emergency centre at 1300 555 135 within Australia or +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

By Allanah Sciberras in Melbourne