KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The devastating floods across Nepal and Tibet have claimed at least 919 lives, 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 country’s toll has increased to 903 fatalities and 4,247 missing persons. Meanwhile, officials in Gyirong County reported 16 deaths and 546 missing residents in Tibet. The cumulative figures have risen significantly since the weekend, as rescue teams expanded their operations to flood-affected regions and updated records of missing persons.
Rescue efforts have successfully evacuated 10,451 individuals to safety, including 252 foreign nationals. The authorities also list 592 foreigners among those still missing, alongside 933 workers engaged in hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors. A total of 267 injured individuals have been recorded, with 156 having completed medical treatment and leaving healthcare facilities. Over 20,000 security personnel have been deployed throughout Nepal to assist in search, rescue, and relief activities across the affected districts. Helicopters are actively transferring survivors and emergency supplies to communities that remain isolated due to infrastructural damage.
The flood originated along the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa District early on August 26. It inundated riverbank settlements, destroying homes, roads, bridges, hydropower infrastructure, and other vital facilities. Authorities indicated that districts such as Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha experienced the most severe impacts as floodwaters moved through interconnected river systems. The disaster also impacted Gyirong County in Tibet, where rescue teams continue their search in mountain valleys and border regions. Investigations are ongoing to determine the precise sequence of events that led to the flooding.
Teams focus on locating missing workers and reaching remote zones
Priority for search operations remains on hydropower sites, where many workers are still unaccounted for. Nepal Army units are coordinating efforts with tunnel rescue specialists from India, China, and South Korea at several locations. Officials estimate that at least 90 individuals remain trapped inside multiple hydropower tunnels blocked by mud, rock, and debris. Rescuers employ drilling, ventilation, and heavy machinery to access these areas, often working through unstable terrain and compromised routes. Authorities are verifying worker lists as project operators and families report missing personnel.
Recovery teams are also managing a large number of unidentified bodies carried downstream by the floodwaters. Twenty-one hospitals are currently housing unidentified remains, while officials compare records and seek information from relatives. In Chitwan, authorities have collected DNA samples and other identifying details to facilitate temporary burials. The disaster management agency noted that the tally of recovered bodies may fluctuate as teams work to identify remains and reconcile reports with potential duplicates or incomplete data. Search teams are additionally inspecting isolated communities where access remains hindered by damaged roads and bridges.
Foreign nationals continue to be among the missing on both sides of the border
Foreign nationals are still prominently featured on the missing persons lists in both Nepal and Tibet. Nepal reports 592 foreigners missing, while Tibetan authorities list 261 foreign nationals among 546 unaccounted-for individuals. The Tibetan roster includes citizens from Nepal, India, Latvia, the United States, Britain, and other nations. Officials in Kathmandu and Tibet are collaborating to verify identities and gather information on citizens who crossed the border before the flooding. Consular teams are assisting families in confirming names and locations of their loved ones.
Nepal’s government emphasizes that search, rescue, relief, and recovery operations remain the top priorities within the disaster zone. Authorities continue to monitor river systems and downstream flood risks while distributing food, medical supplies, and other emergency aid. The flood has displaced many residents and caused extensive damage to transportation and power infrastructure across the affected regions. Officials have urged the public to rely solely on verified casualty and missing-person figures as agencies reconcile field reports. As of Monday’s latest confirmed data, Nepal and Tibet together have recorded 919 deaths and 4,793 individuals missing.