KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – Floodwaters have claimed at least 919 lives across Nepal and Tibet, 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 missing. Meanwhile, officials in Tibet reported 16 fatalities and 546 people missing in Gyirong County. The figures have surged since the weekend, as rescue teams expanded their search efforts in flood-affected zones and updated the data on missing persons.
Rescue operations in Nepal have successfully evacuated 10,451 people to safety, including 252 foreigners. The authorities also listed 592 foreign nationals among those still missing, along with 933 workers involved in hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors. Emergency services report 267 individuals injured, with 156 having completed medical treatment and left healthcare facilities. Over 20,000 security personnel have been mobilized across affected districts for search, rescue, and relief operations, while helicopters continue to transport survivors and essential supplies to isolated communities.
The flooding originated from the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa District early on August 26, devastating riverbank settlements and causing widespread destruction of homes, roads, bridges, hydropower infrastructure, and other vital facilities. Major impacts have been reported in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha as floodwaters moved through interconnected river systems. The disaster also impacted Gyirong County in Tibet, where rescue teams persist in exploring mountain valleys and border regions. Authorities are still investigating the precise events that triggered the flood.
Rescue efforts focus on missing workers and remote locations
Teams are prioritizing hydropower sites, where numerous workers remain unaccounted for. Nepal Army units are collaborating with tunnel rescue specialists from India, China, and South Korea at multiple sites. At least 90 individuals are believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels obstructed by mud, rocks, and debris. Rescuers are employing drilling, ventilation, and heavy machinery to access these areas, working through unstable terrain and damaged routes. Authorities are verifying worker lists as project managers and families report missing personnel.
Additionally, recovery teams are managing large numbers of unidentified bodies carried downstream by the floodwaters. Twenty-one hospitals currently hold unrecognized remains, and officials are cross-referencing records while seeking relatives’ assistance. In Chitwan, DNA samples and identification details are being collected prior to temporary burials of some bodies. The disaster authority emphasizes that the death count may fluctuate as bodies are identified and duplicate or incomplete reports are reconciled. Search crews are also checking isolated villages where damaged roads and bridges hinder access.
Foreign nationals remain among the missing on both sides of the border
Foreign nationals continue to be a significant portion of the missing persons list, on both the Nepalese and Tibetan sides. 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 countries. Officials in Kathmandu and Tibet are working together to verify identities and gather information on individuals who crossed the border prior to the flooding. Consular teams are also assisting families in confirming names and whereabouts.
Nepal’s government emphasizes that the immediate focus remains on search, rescue, relief, and recovery efforts within the disaster zone. Authorities continue to monitor river levels and downstream flood risks while delivering food, medical aid, and other emergency supplies. The floods have displaced many residents and caused extensive damage to transportation and power infrastructure across affected areas. Officials urge the public to rely on official casualty and missing-person figures as field reports are reconciled. As of Monday, the combined toll from Nepal and Tibet stands at 919 deaths and 4,793 missing persons.