Nepal-China border facilities destroyed by massive floods

Massive flooding and landslides on August 26, 2026, have devastated the border region between Nepal and China. Aerial and satellite imagery reveals the near-total destruction of Gyirong Port, a critical transit hub that handled nearly one-third of trade between the two nations in 2024.

Satellite images from the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 show significant changes in the Betrawati area of Nepal, where river widths have expanded and extensive sediment deposits are visible. In the border zone, Chinese customs offices, police stations, and the bridge connecting China and Nepal have been destroyed by landslides.

On the Chinese side of the border, authorities report that 558 people remain missing, including 260 foreigners. The floodwaters moved with extreme force through the border region before flowing south into Nepal, destroying bridges, homes, and villages.