KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – Floodwaters across Nepal and Tibet have resulted in at least 919 fatalities, with 4,793 individuals still missing following the disaster on August 26. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported on Monday that the death toll in the country reached 903, with 4,247 people unaccounted for. Meanwhile, Tibetan officials announced 16 deaths and 546 missing persons in Gyirong County. The total figures surged from weekend estimates as rescue teams expanded their reach into more flood-affected zones and updated records of missing persons.
Rescue efforts have successfully brought 10,451 individuals to safety, including 252 foreign nationals, according to Nepal’s authorities. The list of missing includes 592 foreigners and 933 workers involved in hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors. Authorities also reported 267 injured persons, with 156 having left medical facilities after receiving treatment. Over 20,000 security personnel have been deployed across affected districts to assist in search, rescue, and relief activities. Helicopters continue to move survivors and essential supplies between isolated communities.
The flood originated from the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa District on the morning of August 26, sweeping through settlements along the riverbanks and damaging homes, roads, bridges, hydropower infrastructure, and other critical facilities. Officials noted that Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha experienced the most severe impacts as floodwaters coursed through interconnected river systems. The disaster also affected Gyirong County in Tibet, where rescue teams persist in searching mountain valleys and border areas. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full sequence of events that triggered the flood.
Rescue efforts center on missing workers and hard-to-reach zones
Focus remains on hydropower sites where numerous workers are still unaccounted for, with Nepal Army personnel coordinating with tunnel rescue specialists from India, China, and South Korea at multiple locations. Officials state at least 90 individuals remain trapped inside hydropower tunnels obstructed by mud, rocks, and debris. Rescuers are employing drilling, ventilation, and heavy machinery while navigating unstable ground and compromised access routes. Authorities continue to verify worker lists as project operators and families report missing personnel.
In addition, recovery teams are managing a large number of unidentified bodies carried downstream by the floodwaters. Twenty-one hospitals are holding unidentified remains, with officials comparing records and seeking relatives’ information. In Chitwan, authorities collected DNA samples and other identifying data before temporarily burying some bodies. The disaster management agency stated that the count of recovered bodies might change as teams identify remains and resolve duplicate or incomplete reports. Search crews are also exploring isolated communities where damaged roads and bridges have hindered access.
Foreign nationals remain among the missing in large numbers
Foreign nationals continue to constitute a significant portion of the missing persons lists on both sides of the border. Nepal reports 592 foreigners missing, while Tibetan authorities list 261 foreign nationals among 546 unaccounted-for individuals. The Tibetan list includes citizens from Nepal, India, Latvia, the United States, and Britain, among other nations. Both 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.
Nepal’s government emphasizes that search, rescue, relief, and recovery remain the highest priorities in the affected region. Authorities continue to monitor river flows and downstream flood risks while dispatching food, medical supplies, and other emergency aid. The disaster has displaced many residents and caused extensive damage to transportation networks and power infrastructure across the impacted areas. Officials have urged the public to rely on verified casualty and missing-person figures as agencies reconcile field reports. As of Monday’s latest confirmed counts, Nepal and Tibet together have recorded 919 deaths and 4,793 missing persons.