Mountain collapses into river in Nepal, terrifying video captures chaos

Nepal floods and landslides have killed 21 people, left five missing and damaged hundreds of homes after days of torrential rainfall.

nepal landslideVideos circulating on social media purportedly show mountains collapsing in the Baglung district. (Photo: X/ @visegrad24/ enhanced via AI)

A month after devastating flash floods killed over 1,400 people in Nepal, the Himalayan country continues to see climate-linked disasters. Even as Nepal continues to recover from the disaster that hit the country on August 26, a new wave of flooding and landslides has disrupted normal life.

The latest disaster has killed at least 21 people, with five others remaining missing.

Videos circulating on social media purportedly show mountains collapsing in the Baglung district, as locals can be heard screaming and running from the spot.

Nepal · Disasters

Nepal’s mountain disaster map: From August floods to September landslides

The latest hazards are spread across several districts, not one single disaster.

Where the latest hazards are

Where two pins sit close together, a small black dot marks the exact spot.

Map of Nepal marking Baglung, Chame, Himlung Himal, Devghat on the Narayani, the Bhote Koshi corridor and KathmanduCHINA (TIBET)INDIANEPAL​1Baglung​2Chame, Manang​3Himlung Himal base camp​4Narayani at Devghat​5Bhote Koshi–Trishuli​6Kathmandu
​Landslide​Flood​Avalanche​Flood warning​August flood
  1. 1BaglungDeadly landslides
  2. 2Chame, ManangLandslide blocked the Marsyangdi
  3. 3Himlung Himal base campAvalanche
  4. 4Narayani at DevghatFlood warning
  5. 5Bhote Koshi–TrishuliAugust 26 flood
  6. 6KathmanduReference

August to September: one disaster after another

Key events, 2026

  1. Aug 26

    Bhote Koshi–Trishuli flash flood

    A glacier collapse sends debris down the valley. 1,452 dead in Nepal by Sept 23 (Nepal Police).

  2. September

    Search and recovery continue

    4,718 people were still listed missing on Sept 23.

  3. Sept 25–27

    Heavy rain across Nepal

    Baglung floods and landslides kill 12, with one missing.

  4. Sept 27

    Himlung avalanche; Marsyangdi blocked

    Avalanche hits the Himlung area. A landslide at Ghatte Khola blocks the river at Chame. The Narayani crosses its danger level at Devghat.

  5. Sept 28–29

    Lake falls, search goes on

    The Chame lake drops about 1 m. Four bodies are found at Himlung and 12 remain missing. Machinery is sent to clear the river.

Nepal’s four hazards in one week

Sept 25–28, 2026. Not just another flood story.

  • Extreme rain

    21districts warned

    Heavy rainfall across many districts. A flash-flood warning covered 21 districts.

  • Landslides

    12dead in Baglung

    Baglung and other districts. 51 houses destroyed in Baglung.

  • Flooding

    11 mNarayani at Devghat

    Rivers rising; roads and bridges hit. The Narayani reached about 11 m at Devghat against a 9 m danger mark.

  • Avalanche

    4+12bodies found + missing

    Himlung Himal, Manang. Victims were Nepali expedition workers and guides.

Why mountains are collapsing: the hazard chain

With Chame on the Marsyangdi as the example

  1. Heavy rainfall

    Days of intense rain

  2. Saturated slopes

    Soil and rock lose strength

  3. Landslides and debris flows

    At Chame: a slide at Ghatte Khola

  4. River blocked

    Debris dams the Marsyangdi

  5. Temporary lake

    Water pools upstream at Chame

  6. Sudden flooding downstream

    The risk if the dam breaks; villages were told to move

From mountain to river: Chame explained

Illustrative cross-section, not to scale

​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Mountain slopeDebris from theGhatte Khola slideMarsyangdi RiverTemporary lake at ChameSept 27flow →
  1. Mountain slope
  2. →
  3. Landslide at Ghatte Khola
  4. →
  5. Debris blocks the Marsyangdi
  6. →
  7. Lake forms at Chame
~1 mThe lake level fell about one metre by Sept 28, and a submerged bridge reappeared. Machinery was sent on Sept 29 to clear the river.

Sources: Nepal Police, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, The Kathmandu Post, Nepalnews, agencies. Map: Natural Earth.

Express InfoGenIE

Videos show mountains collapsing amid heavy rain

Nepal Police said landslides buried houses in areas including Baglung, Tamankhola, Nisikhola Rural Municipality and Tarakhola Rural Municipality amid heavy rain. A report by Al Jazeera stated that Nepali authorities have warned of potential flash floods in 49 of the country’s 77 districts.

Nearly 250 families affected by severe weather

According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), landslides in the country accounted for nearly 14 casualties, and five people remain missing. Floods, on the other hand, caused four deaths while three fatalities were attributed to continuous heavy rainfall, report stated. It added that severe weather has affected nearly 250 families across the country, completely destroying 260 homes and partially damaging 80 others.

10 killed in Baglung as rescue operations continue

Nepal Police, in a post on social media on Monday, stated that 10 people have died and one person has gone missing in various parts of Baglung district after landslides buried houses in the area. The police said that houses and physical structures have also been damaged at several places.

“Rescue and search operations are ongoing in the affected areas in coordination with various agencies, while further details about the incident are being collected and investigated,” Nepal police said.

Flood blocks river, creates lake in Chame

According to a Kathmandu Post report, a flood and landslide in the Ghatte Khola river on Sunday afternoon blocked Marsyangdi river that triggered a formation of lake in Chame village. Authorities moved residents of Chame Bazar and surrounding areas to safe locations after the river was blocked due to floods.

Lake level drops by one metre, easing Chame concerns

However, in a relieving news for Chame residents, the lake that had formed has dropped by about one metre. According to Chief District Officer Mukti Prasad Khanal, “The lake that formed yesterday has fallen significantly. It is about one metre lower than yesterday. The river, which was flowing through a narrow channel yesterday, has now begun flowing more freely.”

Avalanche hits Himlung Himal summit

At least four bodies have been recovered after an avalanche hit Himlung Himal, a 7,126-metre summit in the Nar Phu region of Nepal’s Manang district, police said. The missing individuals comprised both mountain climbers and support personnel.

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Out of the 22 Nepali citizens who went to establish Himlung Base Camp through various trekking agencies, 10 had arrived safely at Phu-gaun. The remaining 12 had lost contact. The bodies of two of the uncontacted individuals were previously rescued and brought to the Provincial Hospital Chame, Manang, the police said.

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