What was claimed
Videos show a flash-flood along the Nepal-Tibet border.
Our verdict
False. The images and clips are either AI-generated or show floods in other countries.
AAP FACTCHECK - Misinformation about catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border is spreading online as rescue efforts continue.
The Himalayan region experienced deadly flash flooding on Wednesday, August 26, local time.
Social media has been inundated with dramatic footage of the disaster, and while much of it is authentic, some users are sharing AI-generated videos or clips that depict previous floods in other countries.
One widely shared clip appears to show a wave of flood water hitting a village street.
"Not a Horror Movie... its Nepal Flash Flood [sic]," the caption of a Facebook post reads.
However, it contains several visual inconsistencies. A man in a grey shirt walking along the street at the beginning of the video seems to separate into two people for a second before the flood water hits.
When the video pans from right to left, a new building and tree appear amid the rushing water, while buildings shown to be destroyed by the wave turn into large rocks or boulders.
Google's AI detection software also found invisible watermarks, known as SynthID, confirming it was AI-generated.
Other posts shared online claimed to show evidence of what caused the floods.
"Before they say it's climate change: The floods in Nepal were caused by an act of sabotage; focus on the F-16 bombing," one Facebook video caption reads.
The clip shows an aircraft flying over a dam before an explosion occurs at its base and the dam comes crashing down.
However, a reverse image search shows the video has been online since at least May 10, 2026.
The United States Geological Survey said the flooding and subsequent debris flow were likely triggered by a "glacial collapse", which is when a glacier or part of a glacier breaks apart.
Social media users are also sharing footage that appears to show an elephant rescuing a man stuck in floodwaters.
"In Nepal, elephants were seen saving people from the devastating Flood… Pray for Nepal," a Facebook post from an Australian user reads.
However, the clip was posted online at least two weeks before the Nepal flooding occurred and depicts an incident in India.
The clip was posted on Facebook on August 9 by Indian news outlet Sanjay Pera News, which said it was taken during flooding in the Assam region.
It was also posted on YouTube the same day by a Bangladeshi news site, Nagorik Protidin, with the headline: "Pet elephant saves owner amidst floods."
AAP FactCheck previously debunked fake videos linked to the Nepal-Tibet flash flooding.
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