The devastating floods in Nepal that began on the morning of August 27, 2026, have left thousands of Nepalese residents in the UAE anxiously awaiting news of their families. Rescue teams are currently searching for over 2,500 people reported missing along the Nepal-Tibet border. According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the confirmed death toll stands at 752, with 2,502 individuals missing in Nepal alone. In Tibet, Chinese state media has reported 16 fatalities and 546 missing persons.

Dubai resident Poornima shared her family’s harrowing experience as they evacuated from their hometown of Chitwan. Her brother remained in the disaster zone to assist with relief efforts. “Luckily, my family got enough time to evacuate,” she said. “My brother has been involved with the relief work, and he said he has helped to recover several people. Some have been just body parts because of the force with which the flood hit.” Poornima expressed her concern over the poor internet connectivity, which has hindered communication with her family. “I am just praying for the safety of my country and my people right now,” she added, reflecting on the scale of destruction she witnessed through social media footage.

Causes of the Nepal Floods

The floods were triggered by an ice-and-rock avalanche from the Langtang Lirung peak, which blocked the Lhende Khola river, forming a temporary dam. When this dam breached, it released a catastrophic surge of water and debris downstream. The US Geological Survey initially classified the seismic signal from the glacier collapse as a magnitude-4.4 event, later reclassified to a magnitude-5.2. A second seismic event occurred three hours later, registering a magnitude of 4.2.

The surge traveled approximately 100 kilometers downstream along the Trishuli and Bhote Koshi rivers. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development has warned of the risk of secondary flooding if debris continues to block the Trishuli River. Additionally, China’s Ministry of Resources has cautioned about the potential breaching of a dam created by the initial landslide, which could lead to further flooding toward Gyirong Port, a major land crossing between China and Nepal.

Impact on UAE Expats

The floods have forced difficult decisions for families in the affected areas. Lakshmi Thapa, another Dubai resident, recounted the distressing choices faced by those evacuating. “One of their neighbours had an aged relative who is 100 years old. They had to make the difficult choice of leaving her behind when evacuating because it was so difficult for her,” she said, highlighting the shock within the Nepalese community in the UAE.

Kalpana Khati, a homemaker in Al Nahda, Sharjah, shared her own challenges as her husband became stranded in Nepal. He had traveled there for documentation work and was due to return to Dubai on August 28. With roads blocked, he had to abandon his original route and travel overland to Delhi instead, planning to fly back on August 29.

As of the latest reports, more than 8,100 people have been rescued by Nepal’s security forces, with the Nepal Red Cross indicating that over 90,000 individuals have been affected by the disaster. The Bhote Koshi corridor has a history of severe flooding, with a previous incident in the prior year resulting in nine deaths and 24 missing persons. The Lhende Khola has also experienced flooding twice in the 14 months leading up to this catastrophic event.

Nepalese expat Humkala Neupane, who has lived in the UAE for three years, expressed her concern, noting that the affected area is part of her usual route when flying home. “I have witnessed smaller incidents before, but I have never seen anything of this scale in my country,” she said. Rescue teams continue to work diligently to locate those reported missing, as authorities have declared the affected areas disaster crisis zones for three months.

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