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Deadly Flash Flood Hits Nepal-China Border, Hundreds Missing; Reports: Prince Harry, Meghan & Children Back in UK; Dolly Parton, Country Music Star and Humanitarian, Dead at 80; CNN: Darline Graham Wins South Carolina GOP Senate Runoff; Meta Settles Claims Brought by States Over Harm to Kids. Aired 9-9:45a ET

Aired August 26, 2026 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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(CNN INT SIMULCAST WITH CNN DOMESTIC)

[09:05:00]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World" here on CNN. And you've just been seeing those

images. We're going to stay with this breaking news. Nepal scrambling to respond to what is a major emergency after that huge flash flood hit the

north of the country.

I want to get more now from inside Nepal. Dhananjay Regmi is a Member of Parliament. He's the former head of Nepal's tourism board, and he's an

expert on geology, including on glaciers. He joins us from Kathmandu. And sir, I know you've been in touch with people on the ground in the affected

area. So, what can you tell us at this point?

DHANANJAY REGMI, NEPALI PARLIAMENT MEMBER: Well, at this point, still we are not very clear that what really had happened up in the Tibet side, and

so we -- is still doing research. But there is some recent information. What I receive is that it was not only a -- before it was expected that it

was a glove.

Then the idea came after looking at the number of satellite images. No, it is not a glove, but it is ice fall itself. But later on, I recently got one

information. There is a whole ice, whole glacier was you know collapsed. So, because of that, this started. This is the latest information.

Obviously, after studying more satellite images, the real cause will be identified. And as far as this flood, you know, last year also we had a

flood in July 8th, 2025, from Purepu Glacier from the same area, and at that time it was a Supraglacial, which was you know brushed out at that

time, and -- but this time it is the flood was much big.

It's in a very big scale, so it's very large then, if we compare it with the last year, so it seems that there is some big water body is really

flooded out of on from the Tibet side. So, let's wait to get the real information. So far, there are many speculations.

[09:10:00]

One is the big ice fall. Second is the rock fall happened two three days ago, and then this all the glacier collapse, and another is that there was

an earthquake, and then this you know flood came. But I'm doubtful because similar thing happened in Spiti Valley. We thought that it is the

earthquake that trigger the big rock avalanche.

But the later we realized we found that rock avalanche created the you know shaking of the ground and which was recorded by the earthquake department.

ANDERSON: Right.

REGMI: So, Earthquake Measurement Department. So that -- so in this case also we cannot just say that it was the -- this is one, and if we look at

the situation down.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

REGMI: Obviously the we don't have a clear data on how much losses we have got, but the reality is that there is a big, big devastation. All our

custom point, all and -- all the vehicles there, they all were swept away this whole afternoon. Nepal government was trying to rescue the people.

35 helicopter was used, and they make almost 39 flights whole day. Even the air fuel was transported to the nearby station so at Bidur, so that the

more helicopter search and operations can be done, and you know rescue can be done. So, government is trying its best from their side.

So far, you know more than 100 people were already rescued, and because it's already evening, today's rescue process was stopped until tomorrow

morning. So tomorrow early morning, it will again start. And at another site, some army personnel, some APF Armed Police Force people are also

missing.

Some custom officers are also missing. So there, we cannot say that how many people you know were there. So, we are trying to identify.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

REGMI: Obviously, there were so many tourists were there. This is the tourist season. At the same time, it is of Gosaikunda. There is a one very

big festival is coming. We call it the Janai Purnima in Nepal, and many people believe that going to the Gosaikunda, you know, give them a lot of

blessings of the God.

So, people were there for on the way, and many of them were on the bus, and those busses are also not found yet. So, there is a big, big, you know,

disaster happen, and then the real picture will come -- you know by tomorrow.

ANDERSON: So, you've given us a lot of information there. You've given us a lot of information there. Let me just stop you for a moment because I've

got a couple of questions. Thank you. There's a lot in that. The first question is about what you believe Nepal might need at this point in terms

of support.

You've talked about the sort of early hours of this search and rescue, and clearly things will become clear. It's not clear at this point just how

much devastation there is, how many people have been affected. But I mean, the images are absolutely terrifying. So, I wonder at this point what your

appeal, what your message to the outside world will be?

And the second question I have for you, I mean, you are a geologist. You've spent the last what 25, 30 years working in sort of climate change and the

environment. How big a threat was an event like this? And are you concerned that there could be more to come?

There have been reports, for example, of an earthquake in the area. So, just two very specific sort of buckets of questions there.

REGMI: Yeah, regarding the help, obviously Nepal need a lot of support from everyone who can help at this moment. Government has already requested the

Chinese government and Indian government to support, and they have already given a commitment whatever the help is needed, they are going to provide.

But just Nepal is not asking for the help. Nepal already deployed all the maximum number of the doctors. They activated all the health center nearby.

And now we are even we are getting the number of the hospitals for the people whom we are going to rescue from this flood.

So, government has -- even the Home Minister himself was working since morning. Even he could not come to explain in the house. And he sent the

foreign minister to explain about the situation. And he himself was working in the field and tried to rescue the people. And even the prime minister

called the emergency meeting, even just after half an hour.

And so, this, you know, now I mean the whole system is working together. Even the doctors, hospitals, everybody is preparing themselves to for any

sort of the situations. People, doctors who were on the leave, they were come back. It is kind of an emergency, and every part of the system is now

working together.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

REGMI: So, do even after saying this, obviously, this kind of disaster we certainly need the support from our neighbor and from the international

community and government have already requested, I think, and wherever -- because at present we cannot say at what level we need, what kind of

support?

[09:15:00]

But we are -- we activated every system. By tomorrow, we will come to know more that how many is the available hospitals are enough for them or not,

or we -- if we need a more you know technical people for the for these rescue operations or not.

ANDERSON: Got it. OK. Understood.

REGMI: So, these all will be you know clarified tomorrow. This is one. So, second part, what you are asking me is how often these gloves. Obviously,

if we if we look at the history, the first event was happened like in 1977. Maybe there were many other gloves happen in the past, but those were not

recorded.

In my knowledge, that was the Nare Lake in Dudh Koshi River basin. That was happened in 1997, 30 September 1977, sorry, it was around 49 years back.

And after that, there are many, you know, every -- there are many glove events were happen or this kind of catastrophic floods were happened.

And if we look at the cross-trans boundary problem, then even from the China also there were -- this is the sixth flood that we have -- we receive

from the China side from 1911 July 1981 to then in 82 in again in 85, 2016, 2025 and again this today. So, looking at this, there are the six glacial

outro floods that were happen in China, and that has devastated Nepal.

So, we have a similar situation with the India also, in one glacial lake is there which, if brushed out, that is going to impact the Nepal. And Nepal

itself, we ourselves have around 21 very potentially dangerous glacial lakes. The ICIMOD report -- ICIMOD did a very detailed survey.

And then they come up, come to this point that there are 21 potentially dangerous lake in Nepal. In Tibet, China side, there was six events already

happened, but there are 25 very dangerous glaciers that can, if the glove happens, that is going to impact Nepal as well, and in India one.

So altogether, 47 lakes are there. But the problem is, we are thinking about these big lakes are problematic, and we need to lower it down or make

the people safe from them. And we are installing a number of early warning system there. But the -- if we look at the recent result or the globs in

the recent past, then we identified that these devices are happening only from small lakes that are not that big.

So, what -- then looking at the size or the you know size of this flood, just imagine that what happen if the one of the biggest glacial lakes of

Nepal will burst out? Then how much devastation it will -- it can bring to the downstream area? So, looking at this, I always say that we are in a

very, very dangerous situation.

So, we need to carefully monitor all these glacial lakes, their movement. Obviously, we have to install. We need a support to install an early

warning system that is -- that directly communicated with the satellite and can even give a you know, information on the --

ANDERSON: Understood.

REGMI: -- in those areas.

ANDERSON: So, can I ask you, was there an early warning system? So, was there an early warning system? Sorry, was there an early warning system

installed this time? Was there a warning that this was about?

REGMI: No, that's -- problem. That is the -- yeah after like July 2025 when it happened after that they were just studying they haven't installed that

warning system at that time. And nobody thought that it is going to happen again in this area though Nepal government has you know, whatever this

early warning system was established in the past.

They -- you know update them everything were working like in the Imja or in the Tsho Rolpa, they did, but in this case, they were about to install in

this year but they were late and who knows that the flood will happen immediately on the consequent year. So consequent year.

ANDERSON: Right.

REGMI: So, looking at this there was no such system. If we have that system, obviously, because this flood came at least from 30, 35 kilometer

away, and it was traveling downstream, or you know, the altitude difference was around 3,000 meters.

So, if we calculate, you know, if we have like a 4 to 10 meter of per second movement or the flow of the river also then we easily could have a

one-hour time to rescue the people or ask them to go to the safer place.

ANDERSON: Yeah. Evacuate, yeah.

REGMI: But because we don't have that system, we miss that obviously that's why this is the place where Nepal need to give more attention in the coming

future in near future.

ANDERSON: Understood. Listen, doctor, it's good to have you on. Thank you. I know that you'll want to get back to understanding just what has

happened, what needs to be done, just how much of an impact this has had. But understanding, getting from you some insight into why this may have

happened is incredibly important to us.

[09:20:00]

Thank you. I want to bring in our meteorologist now, Derek Van Dam, and you'll have been listening to our guest there explaining what he believes

may have happened, and it is pretty frightening stuff when you consider what we have just seen, I mean, these images are absolutely devastating.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Becky, we're trying to understand it in real time, just like you, just like the individual, the authoritative

individual you talked to from the Nepalese government a moment ago. But let's talk about what we know, and let's talk about the cascading hazards

that this area is so prone to, we know that this is the monsoon season across Nepal.

We know that August is in the height of summer. We've got thousands of glaciers that line the Himalayas across this area and this part of the

world because of climate change is warming two times faster than the global average. So, what that's doing is accelerating the loss of ice from these

glaciers.

And what that's doing is causing, or at least creating, these glacial lakes in some very precarious positions high into the mountains of the Himalayas.

Now this is kind of a pool of water, right, that is often formed by these melting glaciers, but it can also be filled by the excessive rain from the

monsoon season.

So, these cascading effects, not to mention an earthquake that was registered in and around the location of this disaster, could have added to

this river being dammed up. These glacial lake outbursts, this potential of a glacial lake outburst, just being exacerbated because of these

culminating problems that puts over 2 million people at risk that live in the valleys below across this part of the Nepal and China border.

Now, ice loss here since the year 2000 has doubled, so that is one of the concerns here. So, when we think about the earthquake that was located

right about there, if there was any kind of debris, we're talking ice, we're talking about rock that's been destabilized from the increase in

temperatures.

The fact that it's still monsoon season and it's likely rained across this area, that obviously destabilizes the ground, and any of that rock and

debris falling into the rivers and the gorges below can easily dam up that water. So, if we have a glacial lake outburst, if this is indeed the

problem, indeed the cause of this deadly flooding, it was made worse by this melt-off from glaciers.

Thanks to monsoon rains, the increased temperatures across the planet, this area warming twice as fast. These are the culminating factors that can lead

to these disasters. We've seen it time and time again, a glacial lake outburst that happened last year, similar effects, devastating impacts.

And it is very, very scary to not only see these videos but to live at the base of these towering behemoth mountains, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, and we're talking about Nepal, India, Tibet, China.

DAM: Correct.

ANDERSON: You know, it's a really frightening sort of geographical spot there. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. And more on this breaking

news, of course, as we get it. You're watching "Connect the World". There is a lot more ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:25:00]

ANDERSON: Well, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived back in the United Kingdom. According to multiple British media outlets, the Telegraph

newspaper, for example, reports Prince Harry, Meghan, and their two kids landed at Birmingham Airport within the past few hours.

They've, of course, lived in the United States the past six years. Their return home, or their expected return home, was revealed last week. Anna

Stewart joining me now. Well, this is certainly breaking news for those of you in the UK. This news happening within the past hour. So, at this point,

what do we know?

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we knew that they were going to be returning to the UK. So perhaps no surprise they have landed. Although so

quick, if you consider the fact that it has been less than a week since we heard they were going to be moving back here.

Plenty of speculation. The Telegraph reporting that they landed around lunchtime at Birmingham Airport. That will fuel, of course, all the gossip

magazines as to whereabouts in the UK they will be living. Lots of speculation pointing to the trendy rural area of the Cotswolds.

Now we do know that the kids are starting school in the UK in England, so that will be probably next week or the week after that. When that is when

school is due to go back. What we don't know, Becky, is what the deal is currently with security. As far as we know, there has been absolutely no

change in terms of them not getting taxpayer-funded security.

So perhaps they have their own private security here today. As far as we know, there are no changes there. I don't expect we will see any sort of

school drop-off pictures. I don't think there'll be a big announcement about what schools the kids will go to. This is a private family.

The palace has made clear they are not working members of the royal family. So, I think when it comes to the kids and them as a family, they will keep

a very low profile. Of course, we may see lots of Harry and Meghan, though, as they enter British society at their own private events, at charitable

events.

And the big question will be, of course, will they steal attention away from the working members of the royal family? Will we see sort of rival

courts, Team Sussex versus Team Wales? All that excitement to come.

ANDERSON: Isn't it just. Good luck. Thank you. There's a lot more news ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:30:00]

ANDERSON: Music fans around the world mourning the loss of Dolly Parton, the country music icon known not only for her extraordinary career but also

for her generosity and humanitarian work. Her publicist says Parton passed away Tuesday at the age of 80 after facing a brief battle with cancer.

She was surrounded by loved ones at a Nashville hospital. Well, from humble roots in East Tennessee, Parton rose to become one of the most successful

and beloved figures in music. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced his aunt's death in this video statement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYAN SEAVER, DOLLY PARTON'S NEPHEW: Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy

rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest. Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Tributes to the music icon have been pouring in from around the world. Listen, as these fans remember what they love most about Dolly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If America had royalty, you know, right, she would be one of them. It's like losing our Princess Diana.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My mom is 91. She sent a family text out. She goes, I don't know of any person on the planet that has given more than Dolly

Parton, not just to East Tennessee, but to the world.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If there's anything that America can agree on, it's Dolly Parton. You know, and one of the greatest rags-to-riches stories ever

in the history of music.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Dolly Parton's home county in Tennessee has today declared a day of mourning for her. The county flag will fly at half-staff until Parton's

interment. An official statement also says that at Parton's request, a small funeral service will be held for her immediate family only.

Well, I want to bring in Holly George-Warren now. She's a music journalist who co-authored a book with Dolly called "Behind the Seams: My Life in

Rhinestones". And I'm sorry for your loss and everybody who loved Dolly Parton so much. Those who are grieving today. Tell us more about her, her

as a person, and her as a musician.

HOLLY GEORGE-WARREN, MUSIC JOURNALIST: Well, as a collaborator with Dolly on her book, I discovered that behind closed doors, what you see is what

you get. She was very down homie, just filled with energy and passion about projects, and brought everything she had to the table. She never dialed it

in.

ANDERSON: Do you have a number one sort of memory about Dolly Parton. I mean, you worked with her, you collaborated with her, you really got to

know, and as you say, you know, you got to know the person that perhaps we all understood. She was what she was, right?

GEORGE-WARREN What's amazing about Dolly is, as huge of an icon as she was. She cared about other people and she was interested in other people. She

had this curiosity about life, about people from around the world, and I think that's what drove her to be who she was to keep writing songs all the

way up until you know the last few years of her life.

For example, when we were sitting down and talking, putting together her book. We would just start chatting, and she would say, you know, I can just

picture you wearing that big hair, do yourself. And you know, she wanted to have you know find out things about me, et cetera.

It wasn't all about her, and she was just a very amazing person in that way.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

GEORGE-WARREN: She never got jaded by life by celebrity.

ANDERSON: What do you think she would hope her legacy will be?

GEORGE-WARREN: I think her philanthropy and her songs were her two guiding lights that she hoped would live forever. Of course, I mean her song

writing just, it's unfathomable how she did so many incredible songs, from "I Will Always Love You" to "Jolene", but all the way up until just recent

times.

So definitely, her songwriting, and she continued to write, which is a rarity for an artist that's had the longevity that she has. And then I

think the fact that she donated so much of her time and energy and money to literacy. She started the Imagination Library, which is a program that's

around the world enabling children from birth up until age five to get a free book in the mail once a month.

[09:35:00]

And of course, things that she did like donating tons of money so that we could get a vaccine for COVID back when that was disrupting the world. So

just I think those two things were very, very important to her.

ANDERSON: She actually made you an offer, didn't she? Asking you if you wanted to write this book about her iconic wardrobe. I mean, just talk to

us about what it was like working with her.

GEORGE-WARREN: Well, it was fantastic. She was such a generous person as far as really encouraging me to come up with my ideas and to help her tell

her story.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

GEORGE-WARREN: It was great opportunity for me. Much more fun writing a book with Dolly Parton than my other books, where I'm sitting alone in a

room typing away on my laptop. So, it was just fantastic. And also, all through the process, she was very really into the ideas and coming up with

ideas.

And when we went out and promoted the book together, she again was very supportive.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

GEORGE-WARREN: A lot of celebrities will kind of take all the take all the props for themselves, but she was, you know, Holly did this and Holly did

that. It was really wonderful.

ANDERSON: Yeah, Holly, do you think she was comfortable in her success? I mean, she you know, she didn't come, you know, she came from pretty humble

background. I mean, was she surprised by her success? Did it did it fit her well?

GEORGE-WARREN: I think Dolly Parton knew from a very young age that she was going to be a star. I mean, she had her eye on the prize, probably as a

child. That's what she aspired to change her life, and she literally knew that she was one of those rare people where all of her dreams really did

come true.

ANDERSON: Holly, I'm going to have to take a break at this point. And we've had a lot of breaking news this hour. I could talk to you for hours, and

I'm sure you could and will talk for days, weeks, months, and years about Dolly Parton. What an experience for you. And again, I'm sorry for her

friends and her family, who will be, you know, grieving today.

But thank you very much indeed for joining us. And we will be right back with a lot more news. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, an endorsement from President Trump has paid off for U.S. Senator Darline Graham of South Carolina. CNN projects she will advance to

the general election in November. Graham will defeat Congressman Ralph Norman in the Republican runoff, despite only holding the seat for about

six weeks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DARLINE GRAHAM (R-SC): I want to thank President Trump for all of his support and his endorsement.

[09:40:00]

Mr. President Lindsey truly loved you and viewed you as one of his closest friends. I appreciate that bond and appreciate all that you've done for our

country. Our victory would not have been possible without you, and we are truly grateful. South Carolina is truly Trump country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, Graham's win comes despite a debate fumble last week. A moderator asked her about Taiwan and the South China Sea, Graham admitted

national security was not her thing. Well, we've got breaking news coming into CNN. Meta has agreed to settle claims brought by 29 states that its

platforms harmed young people.

That settlement comes just over a week after the trial began in California. The states claim that Meta's platforms like Instagram and Facebook were

designed to be addictive and harmed kids' mental health. Meta has agreed to make changes, including daily time limits for teens.

Well, U.S. markets slightly cautious ahead of Nvidia's results. The AI bellwether releases second quarter results after the market close today.

Let's just check on the markets for you. The DOW up slightly. The other two markets that we follow, the S&P and the NASDAQ, just off slightly today.

It's a mixed picture this Wednesday, the 26th. I'll be back with more "Connect the World" in 15 minutes. And more at that stage on the deadly

flash flood that has hit the Nepali-Chinese border. Hundreds believed to be missing. "World Sport", though, after this short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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(WORLD SPORT)

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