KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The toll from the floods sweeping through Nepal and Tibet has now surpassed 919 lives lost, with 4,793 individuals still unaccounted for. In Nepal alone, 903 deaths and 4,247 missing persons have been documented following the disaster on August 26. Tibetan authorities have verified 16 fatalities and 546 people missing in Gyirong County. Rescue teams persist in their efforts across ravaged mountain regions, river basins, and hydropower facilities. As operations progress, officials have adjusted casualty figures based on access to previously unreachable areas and confirmations of missing persons reports.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that rescue efforts have evacuated 10,451 individuals. Among these are 252 foreign nationals. The authorities also list 592 foreigners still missing in Nepal and count 933 workers unaccounted for at hydropower sites along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors. Official figures indicate 267 injuries, with 156 victims having left medical facilities after receiving treatment. More than 20,000 security personnel are involved in supporting rescue, recovery, and relief efforts across the affected zones.
The flooding primarily impacted the Bhote Koshi River region in Rasuwa District early on August 26, causing destruction to homes, roads, bridges, power stations, and other infrastructure. Major damage was reported in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha as floodwaters coursed through interconnected river systems. The disaster extended into Gyirong County in Tibet, near the Nepal border. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in communities, valleys, and work sites on both sides of the border. Difficult terrain and damaged roads have hampered access to numerous affected locations.
Hydropower facilities remain a key focus in rescue operations
Rescue teams are concentrating significantly on hydropower infrastructure, where many workers remain missing. Nepal Army personnel are collaborating with tunnel rescue specialists from India, China, and South Korea. Authorities estimate that at least 90 individuals are trapped within several hydropower tunnels. Mud, rocks, and debris have blocked access at multiple sites. During the rescue efforts, crews have employed drilling equipment, ventilation systems, and heavy machinery. Officials are cross-checking employment records with reports from project operators and families of missing workers.
In addition, recovery teams are working to identify bodies carried downstream by the floodwaters. Twenty-one hospitals are currently holding unidentified remains, as officials compare records and seek information from relatives. In Chitwan, authorities collected DNA samples and identification details before temporarily burying some bodies. Efforts to reconcile field reports are ongoing, with officials working to eliminate duplicate records and confirm identities. Search operations are also extending into isolated settlements where damaged bridges and roads have slowed access. Authorities caution that verified figures may change as identification and verification continue.
Foreign nationals remain among the thousands of missing persons
Foreign citizens constitute a significant portion of the missing persons list in Nepal and Tibet. Nepal reports that 592 foreign nationals are missing following the floods. Tibetan authorities list 261 foreign citizens among the 546 people still unaccounted for in Gyirong County. These include nationals from Nepal, India, Latvia, the United States, and Britain. Officials are exchanging identity information and checking travel records and border movements. Additionally, consular officials are assisting families seeking confirmation about relatives who were in the impacted region.
Nepal’s government continues to prioritize search, rescue, relief, and recovery efforts throughout the disaster zone. Teams are delivering food, medical supplies, and other emergency resources to affected communities. Authorities are also monitoring river conditions and assessing damage to transportation routes, homes, and power infrastructure. Thousands remain displaced or cut off from essential services. Officials emphasize the importance of relying on verified casualty numbers as agencies continue to reconcile reports. The latest official figures confirm 919 deaths and 4,793 missing persons across Nepal and Tibet.