Brinkley Hill
•8/27/2026
A Fort Myers resident currently in Nepal says shes safe after devastating floods killed at least 360 people and left 1,400 missing, including 65 Americans.
Sara Swiersz, a graduate student working roughly 70 miles from where the floods occurred, said the school where she works was in session but everyone was checking and supporting each other through the devastation. Because of the terrain of north Nepal, it's about a six-hour car ride to the affected area.
"Students grow up from a really young age learning about the scientific consensus around climate change and about the risks that climate change pose to their everyday life," Swiersz said. "And the people of Nepal are facing those impacts and risks quite literally day to day, and of course, right now as we speak."
Swiersz has been welcomed into the diverse Nepali community teaching English and environmental education in an under-resourced public school north of Kathmandu. She has seen the daily threat climate change poses to Nepal.
"My students and teachers tell me all the time that in their lifetimes they've seen the patterns of the monsoon change from what were once maybe highly predictable timelines and seasons to now less predictable timelines," Swiersz said.
Prina Joshi, a former WINK News photographer, said growing up in Nepal, if flooding happened, it was predictable because it was caused by heavy rainfall during monsoon season. He told WINK News this devastation was different.
"All these carbon emissions, all these big countries are polluting all our environment," Joshi said. "And we are the small country, and relatively poor, have to deal with all these natural disasters because of all these climate changes."
CBS reports flash floods caused by a glacier collapse caused catastrophic damage along the Chinese border. Joshi, who grew up just 50 miles from areas impacted by the flooding, found out about the devastation through social media Wednesday morning.
"It was so quick, no warning, and it happened so quick," Joshi said. "People don't even have time to get their belongings and get ready for getting out from the area."
Joshi said it was heartbreaking because the devastation was so close to home.
"This is a difficult time for us to go through, so whatever the help you can do, please help us to recover this catastrophic event," Joshi said.
Swiersz drew parallels to Southwest Florida's recent hurricane experiences.
"We were shown compassion obviously when we faced the devastations of hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton," Swiersz said. "I think a lot of us can feel viscerally a little bit of what it might be like for Nepali people right now."
Joshi said it is heartbreaking to see the videos and devastating impact climate change is having on the Nepali community and hopes there is an international response for recovery.
