KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – Floodwaters sweeping through Nepal and Tibet have resulted in at least 919 fatalities, with 4,793 individuals still unaccounted for following the disaster on August 26. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority announced on Monday that the death toll in Nepal has risen to 903, with 4,247 people missing. Meanwhile, Tibetan officials reported 16 deaths and 546 missing persons in Gyirong County. The total figures surged from weekend estimates as search and rescue teams reached additional flood-affected zones and updated records of missing persons.
According to Nepal’s authorities, rescue operations have evacuated 10,451 individuals, including 252 foreign nationals, to safety. The list of those still missing includes 592 foreigners and 933 workers involved in hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. Emergency officials confirmed 267 injuries and noted that 156 individuals had been discharged after treatment. Over 20,000 security personnel have been deployed across the affected districts for search, rescue, and relief efforts. Helicopters continue transporting survivors and supplies between communities cut off by floodwaters.
The flooding originated from the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa District early on August 26, inundating settlements along the riverbank and causing extensive damage to homes, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, and critical infrastructure. Officials highlighted that Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha experienced the most severe impacts as floodwaters moved through interconnected river systems. Simultaneously, rescue teams in Tibet are still searching mountain valleys and border regions in Gyirong County. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full sequence of events that triggered the flood.
Focus of rescue efforts remains on missing workers and remote locations
Rescue teams are prioritizing hydropower sites where numerous workers are still unaccounted for. Nepal Army units are working in coordination with tunnel rescue experts from India, China, and South Korea across multiple locations. Authorities report that at least 90 individuals remain trapped inside hydropower tunnels blocked by mud, rocks, and debris. Heavy machinery, drilling, and ventilation systems are being employed as teams contend with unstable ground and compromised access routes. Meanwhile, project operators and families continue reporting missing workers, prompting authorities to verify personnel lists.
In addition, recovery teams are managing a large number of unidentified bodies washed downstream by the floodwaters. Twenty-one hospitals are currently housing unidentified remains while officials cross-reference records and contact relatives for identification. In Chitwan, DNA sampling and personal details were collected before some bodies were temporarily buried. The Disaster Management Authority noted that the tally of recovered bodies may change as teams identify remains and reconcile duplicate or incomplete reports. Search efforts are also ongoing in isolated communities where damaged roads and bridges hinder access.
International presence among the missing remains significant
Foreign nationals continue to constitute a notable portion of the missing persons on both sides of the border. Nepal’s list includes 592 foreigners, while Tibetan authorities report 261 foreign nationals among the 546 individuals missing there. The Tibetan missing persons include nationals from Nepal, India, Latvia, the United States, and Britain, among others. Kathmandu and Tibetan officials are coordinating efforts to verify identities and gather information on individuals who crossed the border prior to the flood. Consular teams are assisting families in confirming names and locations of their loved ones.
Nepal’s government emphasizes that immediate priorities remain search, rescue, relief, and recovery within the disaster zone. Authorities continue to monitor river levels and potential downstream flood risks while distributing food, medical aid, and other emergency supplies. The floods have displaced residents and caused extensive damage to transportation and power infrastructure across affected regions. Officials urge the public to rely solely on verified casualty and missing-person figures as agencies work to reconcile reports from the field. As of the latest official counts on Monday, Nepal and Tibet combined have recorded 919 deaths and 4,793 missing persons.