Prince Albert II of Monaco has expressed his deep sorrow following the catastrophic flash floods that have devastated communities along the border between Nepal and Tibet.
What happened in Nepal?
The disaster struck on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, reportedly caused after a high-altitude glacier collapse sent a fast-moving wall of ice, mud and rock into a mountain river. The resulting flood swept away homes, roads, bridges and power projects, leaving entire communities cut off.
As of Thursday afternoon, at least 362 fatalities had been confirmed, including 359 in Nepal and three in Tibet, according to Reuters. More than 1,000 people remain missing, among them hundreds of international tourists and pilgrims. Rescue operations are continuing in extremely difficult conditions and authorities have warned that the death toll could rise.
Monaco responds to the tragedy
In a statement released by the Prince’s Palace, Prince Albert said:
“Princess Charlene and I wish to express our deep sorrow regarding the terrible disaster currently striking the border between Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet.
“In these painful times, my family and the people of Monaco join me in extending our sincere condolences to the bereaved families and expressing our full solidarity with the people of Nepal and all those affected.
“We commend the dedication of the rescue teams working in particularly difficult conditions and hope that search operations will lead to the swift recovery of those still reported missing.”
The Sovereign Prince has a personal connection with Nepal. He and Princess Charlene visited the country in October 2011, where they saw humanitarian and educational projects supported by Monaco-based organisations.
During the visit, Prince Albert inaugurated a school in Salleri and laid the foundation stone for Rigaon High School, which was built with support from Monaco Aide et Présence (MAP) and the Nepal-Monaco Cultural Association (NAMASTE). The two Monaco associations continue to support schools, healthcare and environmental projects in Nepal.
