Preliminary satellite analysis has provided visual evidence of the destruction caused by devastating flash floods in Nepal that killed at least 95 people and left several others missing. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority of Nepal (NDRRMA) shared an analysis by Planet Labs indicating that an ice-rock landslide near the Nepal-China border may have triggered the debris-laden flood.

According to the analysis, a large section of snow and rock broke away near a glacier zone about 20 kilometres northeast of the Rasuwagadhi Nepal-China border crossing. The material may have either fallen into a glacial lake or obstructed the river channel, creating conditions for a sudden surge of water and debris. The resulting flow entered the Lhende Khola before moving into the Bhote Koshi river.

Planet Labs released satellite images comparing conditions on August 25 and August 26, showing the changes in the affected area before and after the flood. The analysis provides preliminary visual evidence of the scale of destruction after the surge swept through the region. Officials have been assessing the possible sequence of events as rescue teams continue operations in areas affected by the flooding.

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The Bhote Koshi river flooded at around 9am on Wednesday, damaging villages, roads and several hydropower projects in the region bordering Tibet. Officials reported that 384 tourists were missing, including 291 foreign nationals from countries such as India, the United States, Britain and Malaysia. Tourism officials indicated that a large proportion of those missing were likely Indians, including members of the Indian community travelling on pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet.

The disaster has also triggered a response from India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking to Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and offering humanitarian assistance. Indian teams are coordinating with authorities involved in rescue and relief operations as the search for missing people continues. At least 108 Indians have been reported missing following the flash floods, adding to concerns over the impact on cross-border travellers and communities.

The affected region has experienced similar glacial-related flooding in the past. In August last year, a glacial lake in Tibet overflowed amid high temperatures, triggering flash floods that killed nine people and damaged critical infrastructure, including a bridge connecting Nepal and China. The latest satellite findings have renewed attention on the vulnerability of settlements and infrastructure along the river system to sudden glacier- and landslide-related flood events.

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