Images from around the world: Nepal floods, California fires, and more
The Guardian's picture editors selected photos from around the world, including rescue operations in Nepal after flash floods and mudslides, and firefighters battling the Plaskett fire in Big Sur, California. Other images show mourning in Oslo, a memorial in Iran, and a fire in Ukraine.
The Nepal floods and mudslides, triggered by intense monsoon rains, have left families awaiting news of the missing outside Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan University hospital, while children scramble toward army helicopters in Hattigauda. In California, the Plaskett fire in Big Sur continues to burn hillsides, with firefighters coordinating amid dry, windy conditions. Elsewhere, a forest fire in Algeria’s Jijel province has destroyed homes, leaving a woman amid the ruins of her house. These events underscore how extreme weather—both wet and dry—is straining emergency responses across continents.
Such disasters could deepen displacement and economic strain in vulnerable regions, from Nepal’s mountain communities to California’s rural towns. The frequency of these events may pressure governments to invest more in early-warning systems and resilient infrastructure. For families directly affected, recovery could take years, while global attention often shifts quickly, leaving long-term rebuilding underfunded. The broader societal impact may include heightened climate anxiety and renewed calls for coordinated international aid, though responses remain uneven.