Prince William and Princess Kate 'shocked' by deadly Nepal floods amid summer break

The Prince and Princess of Wales have paused their summer break to offer condolences after catastrophic flooding swept through Nepal and neighboring parts of China, killing at least 579 people.

In a statement shared on X on Aug. 28, the royal couple said the scale of the devastation along the Nepal-China border was "shocking."

"The scale of the devastation along the Nepal-China border is shocking. We are thinking of everyone caught up in this terrible disaster," they wrote. "Our thoughts are especially with the families facing an unbearable wait for news and with the communities confronting such immense loss."

They added: "We are incredibly grateful to all those working in such dangerous conditions to rescue people and support those affected."

Their comments came after the pair recently visited Balmoral Castle in Scotland during their summer break. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has said 579 people were killed, with 1,924 still unaccounted for.

King Charles III, William's father, also expressed sympathy in an Aug. 27 statement, saying he and Queen Camilla were "heartbroken" by the news. He offered condolences to the families of police and armed forces personnel who died while carrying out their courageous duty, thanked rescue workers, and said the United Kingdom "stands ready to help support those in need."

The disaster unfolded Aug. 26 after a sudden surge of water entered the Bhote Koshi River from Tibet and swept through Nepal's northern Rasuwa district, overwhelming communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors. Homes, buildings and critical infrastructure were destroyed, and rescue teams have faced difficult conditions reaching affected areas. Nearly 93,000 people are estimated to have been affected, according to the Red Cross, which said the death toll is expected to rise.

Officials are still investigating the exact cause, though preliminary assessments suggest an ice avalanche may have blocked a river upstream in Tibet, triggering the sudden outburst flood. Scientists suspect a glacier collapse and say climate change may have contributed. The disaster has renewed attention on the risks posed by glacial lakes across the Himalayan region as global temperatures rise.

Nepali officials said they remained hopeful that more survivors would be found.