Updated as of Aug 28, 2026. This is a developing story & the figures will change from time to time.
57 Malaysians are still uncontactable in Nepal & Nepali police have now published a partial list of the missing that names 23 of them after deadly floods hit the country on Wednesday (Aug 26).
Given the scale of devastation and rising death toll, here’s everything that has been confirmed by the authorities following the disaster.
What happened?
On Wednesday morning, a glacier collapsed roughly 20km northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border point, sending a massive debris-laden flood down Lhende Khola.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the surge crossed in from Tibet’s side into the Bhote Koshi River at about 8.40am local time, tore through Rasuwagadhi, Timure, and Syaphru Besi before the debris was dumped into the Trishuli River.
As such, communities across five districts, namely Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan, found themselves in the forefront of danger.
According to the US Geological Survey, it said the glacier collapse, which was equivalent to a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, was detected at 8.37am local time.
Researchers at the Planetary Science Institute also calculated that the flood wave covered its first 22km at an average speed of 193km/h.
What caused it?
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the intergovernmental Himalayan research body based in Kathmandu, said an ice avalanche in the Lhende Khola is the suspected trigger, though the cause is still unconfirmed.
While climate change is no doubt altering glaciers, snow, permafrost & mountain slopes across Hindu Kush Himalaya, ICIMOD said it’s too early to determine what role it played in this specific event.
However, they did notice a troubling trend: this was the same site that flooded in July 2025, making it the second time the Lhende Khola has flooded in just 14 months.
How bad is it?
Nepali police have estimated the death toll to be at 469 as of today, with more than 1,300 reported missing across Nepal & Tibet. A total of 466 people were injured as well.
Here’s a glance at the numbers:
- Aug 26: 95 bodies recovered
- Aug 27 (morning): 165 bodies recovered
- Aug 27 (evening): 389 confirmed dead
- Aug 28: 469 confirmed dead
NDRRMA said 44 Nepal Army personnel, 28 police personnel, and 13 Armed Police Force personnel stationed in the affected areas were also reported missing.
As for infrastructure damage, 35 motorable bridges, 45 suspension bridges & around 40km of paved road have been utterly destroyed.
On the Chinese side, authorities reported three dead and around 560 missing after the mudslide at the Gyirong crossing in Tibet.
Who are the M’sians who’ve gone missing?
According to Wisma Putra, 57 Malaysians remain uncontactable as of Friday, which skyrocketed from Wednesday’s initial figure of 11.
A partial list of these missing Malaysians were also released by Nepali police, which consists of eight women & 15 men. Photographs of unidentified victims, made accessible via a QR code, were also released to help families identify loved ones.
It’s important to note that “uncontactable” is not a casualty count as loss of contact is believed to be a direct result of severe disruption to communication networks & electricity supply.
So far, there have been no reports of Malaysian casualties in the disaster.
Among those missing Malaysians include two Bomba officers, 17 Kailash pilgrims, independent tourists and trekkers.
Thankfully, there were also a handful of Malaysians who were reported to be safe in the disaster, such as:
- Everest climber Datuk N. Mohanadas
- A group of 38 M’sians with Polama Groups Travel & Tours who crossed into Tibet before the flood
- Hikers on the Annapurna Base Camp trail
Why the difference in numbers?
This is because Wisma Putra’s 57-person count is a consular figure which is built from families and travel agencies calling in to say they can’t reach someone, while figures from Nepali police’s is a police report figure based on missing-person reports filed on the ground.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the number of missing Malaysians has not yet been independently confirmed by Nepalese authorities and is still being cross-checked by the embassy.
In a statement, prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia extends its deepest condolences to the governments & people of Nepal and China, adding that he had directed the mission be given every form of resource needed.
Here’s what’s been mobilised so far:
- Wisma Putra has activated its operations room in Putrajaya as a direct channel for families
- Officers from the M’sian High Commission in Dhaka have been flown into Kathmandu
- Consular officers at the High Commission in New Delhi and the embassy in Beijing are engaging their respective authorities
- The embassy is working with Nepalese authorities, SAR teams, the Nepal Tourism Board, travel agencies and major hospitals in Kathmandu
When asked whether Malaysia will deploy its own rescue team, Mohamad said that call sits with the National Security Council.
Meanwhile, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim urged Wisma Putra to take all necessary measures, including keeping families updated on the safety and whereabouts of those involved.
Stop spreading unverified info
Wisma Putra said it was aware of unverified information circulating on social media & through unofficial channels about possible M’sian deaths.
At this stage, the ministry has not received any official confirmation of fatalities involving M’sian citizens.”
It also urged the public and media not to speculate or share unverified information to avoid unnecessary alarm and distress to the families involved.
Wisma Putra also requested families to send the full names, passport numbers, travel itineraries, last known locations and contactable phone numbers to the following ministries:
- Wisma Putra Operations Room: 03-8887 4570 / [email protected]
- Embassy of M’sia, Kathmandu: [email protected]
- Embassy emergency helpline: +977-980-100-8000
- e-Konsular registration: ekonsular.kln.gov.my
If you’re travelling to Nepal soon…
Here’s what you should look out for if you’re heading to the country soon:
- Tribhuvan International Airport remains open for domestic and international flights as the floods did not pass through the Kathmandu Valley
- Do not travel to the Rasuwa district, including Langtang, Gosaikunda, the Tamang Heritage Trail, Syafrubesi, Timure or Rasuwagadhi
- Stay away from riverbanks, low-lying areas, damaged bridges and flood debris
- Continuous rain may still trigger local flooding, landslides & road damage
Chinese authorities have also warned of a “high risk” that a barrier lake, meaning a river blocked by landslide debris into an artificial lake, could burst near the Nepal-China border and send more water gushing downstream.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the floods and we hope their loved ones will be found soon.
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia (Wisma Putra) media advisories & statements, 26 to 28 Aug 2026; Nepal Police official Facebook page; Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s official Facebook statement; Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar official Facebook page; Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia director-general Nor Hisham Mohammad; National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) figures via The Rising Nepal; ICIMOD; UN News; UN OCHA / ReliefWeb; US Embassy in Nepal; United States Geological Survey; Nepal Tourism Board; Nepal Department of Hydrology and Meteorology; Embassy of Nepal in Kuala Lumpur.
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