
Aug 31, 2026
Real Madrid and Malaga Honour Nepal Flood Victims
Real Madrid and Malaga observed a minute’s silence before their La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, paying tribute to the victims of devastating flooding on the border between Nepal and Tibet. Players from both clubs also wore black armbands as a mark of respect.
The pre-match gesture placed solidarity with those affected by the disaster at the centre of the occasion. Real Madrid’s social-media team described the moment as a minute of silence at the Bernabeu in memory of the victims of the terrible flooding that had struck the Nepal-Tibet border.
The tribute came as Nepal continued to deal with the severe consequences of flash floods. According to Nepal Police, the number of bodies recovered had reached 788 by 3 PM on Sunday, underlining the scale of the emergency confronting the country.
Minute of silence at the Santiago Bernabeu
Real Madrid and Malaga’s observance took place before the scheduled La Liga fixture in Madrid. The minute’s silence was accompanied by black armbands worn by the players, creating a visible sign of remembrance before football took focus.
The clubs’ gesture was directed towards victims of flooding in Nepal and Tibet, with Real Madrid publicly expressing its support for those impacted. The observance linked a major Spanish football match with an unfolding humanitarian crisis thousands of miles away.
There were no further match details included in the source material. The significance of the pre-match moment instead rested on the shared acknowledgement by both sets of players of the lives affected by the flooding and the continuing rescue effort in Nepal.
Such moments before a match provide a collective pause for players, staff and spectators. At the Santiago Bernabeu, the silence and armbands ensured the victims and affected communities were recognised before the La Liga contest began.
Nepal rescue and relief operation continues
Authorities in Nepal reported major losses across several districts. Chitwan had recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 264 deaths, followed by Nawalparasi East with 194 and Nawalparasi West with 120. Further deaths were reported in Gorkha, Nuwakot, Dhading, Tanahun and Rasuwa.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said that 2,502 people remained missing as of 1 PM, while rescue operations continued across multiple affected areas. The missing included workers from regional hydropower projects, foreign nationals and Nepali citizens travelling with foreign groups.
Authorities said unidentified bodies were being held at 21 hospitals nationwide while identification procedures continued. The disaster response also involved reports concerning missing personnel from the Nepal Police, Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Customs Office and Immigration Office.
Nearly 20,000 security personnel had been deployed, with ground forces carrying out 8,730 rescues. Air crews had completed 363 helicopter flights and airlifted 3,081 people, including 236 foreign nationals. Officials also reported that 279 people had been rescued directly from a flooded hydropower tunnel.
Emergency support and relief deliveries were also under way, including transport vehicles and helicopter flights carrying food, communications equipment and emergency supplies to isolated communities. The minute of silence before Real Madrid against Malaga came against that continuing backdrop of rescue, recovery and assistance efforts.


