Floods in Nepal caused by a sudden release of water in a glacial region on 26 August swept away entire villages and prompted swift mobilization by the Catholic Church to support victims in the Himalayan country.
Speaking to the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Father Silas Bogati, Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal, described the scale of the tragedy:
“In some places along the Bhote Koshi River, entire villages have been wiped out. Many houses along the river were swept away. So far, 624 people have been confirmed dead and 2,400 are still missing”.
Initial investigations point to a sudden release of water in a glacial area of Tibet, possibly caused by the outburst of a glacial lake, though exact causes remain under investigation.
Devastation caused by the floods in Nepal
Father Bogati confirmed that Rasuwa, on Nepal’s border with Tibet, was the worst-affected area. He explained that a key trade route with Tibet runs through this region, where Syabrubesi—a major departure point for tourists traveling toward the Langtang Valley—is located:
“All these hotels and settlements were swept away. There has been a high death toll in this area, and the river continued downstream, wreaking havoc across five districts. The flood has caused enormous devastation, as a huge mass of water surged downstream, destroying everything in its path. Some communities are still cut off, and search and rescue operations are proving difficult”.
Although Nepal’s Catholic community is very small—comprising 13 parishes and 10,000 Catholics—the Apostolic Administrator emphasized that the Church has always worked for the entire Nepali population regardless of religion. Regarding the local Catholic population, Father Bogati noted that members of one Catholic community work in Syabrubesi and might have been swept away by the waters, though no figures are confirmed yet, adding that no Catholic churches or chapels were destroyed.
Emergency relief and pastoral mission of the Church
The Church has begun providing emergency assistance and assessing needs through Caritas Nepal, setting up community kitchens and dispatching food to provide meals for 300 affected families for 15 days. Assistance will expand through local partners in inaccessible areas, while tarpaulins, blankets, and sleeping mats remain priorities due to ongoing rain forecasts and people sleeping outdoors.
Father Bogati highlighted the international spiritual solidarity received:
“The Holy Father, Pope Leo, was the first to pray and to show his sympathy and closeness to the victims of these flash floods. In the same way, we are receiving prayers and support from the Catholic Church around the world”.
He emphasized that the Church’s mission extends beyond material aid:
“By being there, providing relief now and, later, contributing to reconstruction, we give hope. Our presence among those who are suffering will give them hope”.
Father Bogati concluded with a special appeal for prayers for all those affected, expressing deep gratitude for the solidarity of ACN, its benefactors, and the universal Church with the Catholic community in Nepal.
