Nepal orders mass evacuation as landslide-triggered floods threaten villages

Nepalese officials have ordered residents in the affected region to leave their homes immediately following a catastrophic landslide in Chumnubri village, located in Gorkha district approximately 100 kilometres west of the capital Kathmandu. The geological event caused debris to dam the Budhi Gandaki River, creating a temporary barrier that has since released a surge of floodwaters downstream, threatening settlements and infrastructure in its path.

Authorities have designated the situation as a priority emergency response, with rescue teams mobilised to search for the five individuals reported missing since the incident. Local officials have established evacuation zones and are coordinating with community leaders to ensure rapid movement of residents away from flood-prone areas.

The landslide adds to Nepal's ongoing vulnerability to natural disasters, a consequence of its location within the seismically active Himalayan region and the country's steep, unstable terrain. Monsoon seasons typically exacerbate such hazards, increasing both landslide frequency and the likelihood of flash flooding in mountain valleys and river systems throughout the nation.

Rescue and disaster management teams continue operations in the region as weather conditions are monitored closely. Preliminary assessments of infrastructure damage and the scale of displacement are underway, with humanitarian agencies standing by to provide support to affected communities.