KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that heavy flooding across Nepal and Tibet has resulted in at least 919 fatalities, with 4,793 individuals still unaccounted for following the disaster on August 26. On Monday, the authority announced that Nepal’s death toll had risen to 903, with 4,247 people missing. Meanwhile, officials in Tibet documented 16 deaths and 546 missing persons in Gyirong County. The figures saw a significant increase from weekend estimates as rescue teams expanded their search efforts into more flood-affected regions and updated missing persons data.
Rescue operations in Nepal have successfully evacuated 10,451 individuals to safety, including 252 foreigners. The list of those still missing includes 592 foreigners, along with 933 workers involved in hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors. Authorities have also reported 267 injured people, with 156 having already left medical care after treatment. Over 20,000 security personnel are actively engaged in search, rescue, and relief activities across the affected districts. Helicopters are transporting survivors and emergency supplies to isolated communities as well.
The initial flood event occurred along the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa District on the morning of August 26. It inundated riverbank settlements, damaging homes, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, and other vital infrastructure. Officials indicated that Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha experienced the most severe impacts as floodwaters moved through interconnected river systems. The event also impacted Gyirong County in Tibet, where rescue teams continue to search mountain valleys and border regions. Authorities are still investigating the sequence of events that led to the flood.
Rescue teams prioritize missing workers and remote locations
Efforts are concentrated on hydropower facilities where a significant number of workers remain unaccounted for. Nepal Army personnel are working alongside tunnel rescue experts from India, China, and South Korea at multiple sites. Official estimates suggest that at least 90 individuals are trapped inside several hydropower tunnels blocked by mud, rocks, and debris. Rescuers are employing drilling, ventilation, and heavy machinery to access these areas, despite challenges posed by unstable ground and damaged routes. Authorities are verifying worker lists as project operators and families report missing personnel.
Recovery crews are also managing numerous unidentified bodies carried downstream by the floodwaters. Twenty-one hospitals are currently holding unidentified remains, while officials compare records and contact relatives for identification. In Chitwan, authorities have collected DNA samples and other identifying information before conducting temporary burials of some victims. The official count of recovered bodies may fluctuate as teams continue to identify remains and reconcile duplicate or incomplete reports. Search efforts also extend to isolated communities where damaged roads and bridges hinder access.
Foreign nationals among the missing remain a major concern
Foreign nationals continue to feature prominently on the missing persons lists on both sides of the border. Nepal accounts for 592 foreigners listed as missing, while Tibetan authorities report 261 foreign nationals among 546 people unaccounted for. The Tibetan missing persons include individuals from Nepal, India, Latvia, the United States, and Britain, among other nations. Authorities in Kathmandu and Tibet are actively coordinating efforts to verify identities and gather information about citizens who crossed the border prior to the flooding. Consular teams are also assisting families in confirming names and whereabouts.
Nepal’s government emphasizes that search, rescue, relief, and recovery efforts are the immediate priorities in the disaster zone. Authorities continue to monitor river levels and downstream flood risks while delivering food, medical supplies, and other emergency aid. The flooding has displaced residents and caused extensive damage to transportation and power infrastructure in the affected areas. Officials urge the public to rely on verified casualty and missing-person figures as agencies work to reconcile field reports. As of Monday’s latest confirmed counts, the combined death toll for Nepal and Tibet stands at 919, with 4,793 individuals reported missing.