Nepal Flash Floods

Last Updated: August 27, 2026

On August 26, 2026, a catastrophic flash flood swept through northern Nepal, destroying homes, roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure. The largest impacts have been reported in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, with multiple bridges washed away and major roadways disrupted.

Thousands of people have lost access to basic services. Damage to roads, transportation, and other infrastructure is making it difficult for emergency teams to understand the full extent of the disaster and get help to those who need it. Initial reports indicate that hundreds of lives have been tragically lost, with hundreds more people still reported missing.

How the Nepal Red Cross is helping people impacted by the flash floods

The Nepal Red Cross quickly mobilized teams to support response efforts, providing critical support to those impacted by the flash floods.

Their support includes:

• Mobilizing emergency teams and volunteers to support local Red Cross branch capacity. 
• Distributing drinking water and emergency supplies, including tarpaulins, blankets, sleeping mats, first aid kits, stretchers and body bags.
• Completing rapid assessments to determine the scale of needs and inform the next phase of the response. The immediate humanitarian priorities so far are emergency shelter, safe drinking water, providing basic relief items, first aid and health support, and restoring access to isolated communities.

How the Canadian Red Cross is supporting the Nepal flash floods response

• The Canadian Red Cross has established a Crisis Contingency Fund in Nepal, which can be accessed rapidly to support early response activities.
• In partnership with the Nepal Red Cross and other Red Cross National Societies, the Canadian Red Cross worked to improve access to healthcare in Nepal after the 2015 earthquake. This includes providing trainings for healthcare professionals, providing first aid training to community members, strengthening the emergency and trauma services, and developing a mobile emergency field clinic. The clinic has been deployed to respond to outbreaks of water-borne diseases for the past 10 years across Nepal.

How you can help people impacted by the flash floods in Nepal

People in Canada wishing to help are encouraged to make a donation to the Canadian Red Cross Nepal Flash Floods Appeal.

The Red Cross is working to get help to those impacted by the Flash Floods in Nepal as quickly as possible. Money raised will enable the Red Cross to support immediate relief, recovery efforts, resilience, and preparedness activities for future events in impacted and surrounding areas. As urgent needs are met in this crisis, funds may be used to support readiness to respond quickly to future disasters.