Satellite Images Reveal Devastating Aftermath of Deadly Himalayan Glacier Collapse and Floods in Nepal and Tibet

New satellite imagery captured by Planet Labs reveals the profound destruction left behind after a catastrophic Himalayan glacier collapse triggered a massive wall of water, mud, and rock across the border regions of Nepal and China’s Tibet region. The disaster has left more than 270 people confirmed dead and at least 1,300 missing, as rescue teams struggle to reach survivors in highly inaccessible terrain.

Authorities report that at least 19 bridges and approximately 40km (25 miles) of roads have been completely destroyed, severely hampering ongoing search and rescue efforts. Nepal Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle warned that the death toll is expected to climb further. Satellite photos show entire buildings and roads washed away, with large sections of Syapru Besi village heavily submerged in mud. Drone footage from Navesh Chitrakar and Reuters similarly documents thick layers of mud covering properties in Trishuli, located in the Nuwakot district.

What happened?

The catastrophe began at approximately 8:40am local time (02:55 GMT) on Wednesday when a massive section of a glacier broke away high above the Lhende river in Tibet. The falling mass of ice and rock initially dammed the river. When the blockage ultimately gave way, a powerful surge tore through settlements in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, obliterating homes, hydropower plants, and critical border infrastructure. The avalanche struck the river roughly 20km (12 miles) northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.

While early reports suggested a magnitude 4.4 earthquake caused the collapse, the United States Geological Survey later clarified that the seismic signal was actually generated by the landslide itself. The massive movement of earth packed enough force to register as a magnitude 5.2 seismic event.

Where did the floods hit?

The Rasuwa district on Nepal's northern border with China suffered some of the most catastrophic damage. The violent surge rushed down the Lhende Khola (river) into the Bhotekoshi and subsequently the Trishuli river, which surged by an astonishing 9 metres (30 feet) in just 30 minutes, according to Nepali officials. Among the severely impacted settlements in Rasuwa were Timure and Syapru Besi. Further downstream, the floodwaters swept through parts of Nuwakot and Dhading, while bodies have been recovered as far south as Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan, and the two Nawalparasi districts. Across the border in Tibet, debris and mud heavily impacted Gyirong Port in Shigatse. Ultimately, the Trishuli flows into the Narayani, which continues onward into India’s Bihar state as the Gandak.