Americans listed among almost 400 tourists missing after Nepal flash flood
Flash flooding tore through a valley in Nepal, sweeping away villages and hundreds of tourists, including Americans, authorities say.
Updated on: August 26, 2026 / 7:59 AM EDT / CBS News
At least 18 people were killed and more than 380 listed as missing Wednesday in Nepal after flash flooding tore through valleys in the Himalayan country's northern border areas, according to authorities. At least three U.S. nationals were among the 291 foreigners listed as missing, according to Nepal's Tourism Board, citing information from tour companies.
The flash floods decimated villages, slamming into houses, roads, bridges and power plants. Videos broadcast by regional news outlets and posted on social media show violent torrents of water surging through valleys and mountain passes, tearing down bridges and dams and sweeping away buildings.
CBS News' British partner network BBC cited a statement by police putting the death toll at 18, but there was no word on the nationalities of the casualties.
A sudden surge of water Wednesday morning in the Bhote Koshi River, in the country's northern Rasuwa district north of capital Kathmandu, quickly affected the neighboring Nuwakot and Dhading districts.
Nepali President Ramachandra Paudel said he was "extremely saddened" by the "loss of lives and property caused by the sudden flood."