KATHMANDU / RankWire.AI / – Nepal has increased the tally of missing individuals following the Aug. 26 floods to 6,150, after conducting revised verification at the district level. The earlier figure was 5,179, indicating that authorities have now added 971 names to the nationwide count. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority announced the updated numbers as search and identification efforts persisted. Since the disaster, authorities have recovered 1,403 bodies and have officially identified 105 of those victims.
To facilitate victim identification and reconcile missing-person data, forensic teams have collected 3,175 DNA samples. This total comprises 1,286 samples from recovered bodies and 1,889 from relatives of missing persons. Officials have also recorded 13,742 rescues since the event impacted northern Nepal. Additionally, 587 foreign nationals remain on the missing list. These figures underscore the extensive search operations carried out across remote mountain districts and communities affected by floodwaters and debris.
In the latest official breakdown, Rasuwa accounts for 2,679 missing persons, while Nuwakot reports 1,787. Both districts experienced severe damage during the late-August floods. Infrastructure including roads, settlements, and bridges across the region was damaged by floodwaters and debris. Search teams have been working through river valleys and damaged communities, while authorities review local records. They are cross-referencing family reports, district data, and forensic evidence to update the national figures.
Authorities extend the official missing-person count
The disaster was triggered by a large-scale collapse of rock and ice on Langtang Lirung, which caused a destructive debris flow. This flow entered the Bhotekoshi river system, moving through downstream communities. Rasuwa, situated near Nepal’s border with China, reported some of the heaviest losses. Nuwakot and Dhading also faced significant impacts from the floods. The event resulted in damaged homes, disrupted transport links, and compromised hydropower infrastructure, prompting large-scale rescue efforts in difficult mountain terrain.
According to official figures, helicopters have completed 1,923 sorties supporting rescue and relief activities. Authorities have also set up 29 relief centers for displaced or affected individuals, with the latest update recording 2,096 people at these centers. Nepal Police continue to assist in rescue, relief, and community support across affected zones. Meanwhile, search and forensic teams remain engaged in processing records and samples related to the individuals still listed as missing.
DNA testing aids in confirming victim identities
The rise from 5,179 to 6,150 missing persons followed ongoing collection and verification of data from impacted districts. Authorities are still distinguishing confirmed deaths from missing persons and victims who have been formally identified. DNA matching continues to play a key role in identifying recovered bodies by comparing victim samples with those provided by relatives. As of now, only 105 out of 1,403 recovered bodies have been officially identified in the latest verified figures.
The floods also caused casualties across the border in China, where 43 deaths and 519 missing individuals have been reported. The combined total for Nepal and China is now 1,446 confirmed deaths, with at least 6,669 individuals still missing. Nepal’s current verified numbers remain at 6,150 missing and 1,403 bodies recovered. Ongoing efforts in search, recovery, and victim identification continue across the affected districts, as authorities review district reports, family information, and forensic records to maintain an accurate record of the disaster.