KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – Floodwaters sweeping through Nepal and Tibet have resulted in at least 919 fatalities, 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 toll in Nepal has risen to 903 dead and 4,247 missing. Meanwhile, Tibetan officials reported 16 deaths and 546 missing persons in Gyirong County. These figures increased significantly from weekend reports as rescue teams reached additional flood-affected regions and updated their records of missing persons.
Rescue operations in Nepal have successfully evacuated 10,451 individuals to safety, including 252 foreign nationals. The authorities have also identified 592 foreigners among those still missing, along with 933 workers involved in hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors. A total of 267 injured people have been registered, while 156 have left medical facilities after treatment. More than 20,000 security personnel have been deployed across affected districts to support search, rescue, and relief efforts. Helicopters are transporting survivors and supplies to and from isolated communities.
The flooding originated from the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa District on the morning of August 26, devastating riverbank settlements and causing extensive damage to homes, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, and other critical infrastructure. Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts experienced severe impacts as floodwaters moved through interconnected river systems. The disaster also affected Gyirong County in Tibet, where search teams continue to explore mountain valleys and border regions. Authorities are still investigating the precise sequence of events that led to the flood.
Rescue efforts prioritize missing workers and inaccessible zones
Focus is on hydropower sites with many workers still unaccounted for. The Nepal Army is collaborating with tunnel rescue experts from India, China, and South Korea at multiple locations. Officials report that at least 90 individuals remain trapped inside hydropower tunnels blocked by mud, rocks, and debris. Rescuers are employing drilling, ventilation systems, and heavy machinery to access these areas while navigating unstable terrain and compromised entry points. Authorities are cross-referencing worker lists as project operators and families report missing personnel.
Recovery teams are also managing numerous unidentified bodies carried downstream by the floodwaters. Twenty-one hospitals are currently storing unidentified remains, with officials comparing records and seeking relatives’ information. In Chitwan, DNA samples and details were gathered before temporary burials for some victims. The disaster authority indicated that the number of recovered bodies may fluctuate as teams work on identification and reconcile duplicate or incomplete reports. Search crews are extending efforts to isolated communities where damaged roads and bridges have hindered access.
Foreign nationals among those still missing on both sides of the border
Foreign nationals constitute a significant portion of the missing persons list in both Nepal and Tibet. Nepal reports 592 foreigners as missing, while Tibetan authorities list 261 foreign nationals among 546 unaccounted-for individuals. Citizens of Nepal, India, Latvia, the United States, Britain, and other countries are included in the Tibetan tally. Officials in Kathmandu and Tibet are working together to verify identities and gather information on those who crossed the border before the flood. Consular teams are assisting families in confirming names and locations of their loved ones.
The Nepal government emphasizes that the immediate focus remains on search, rescue, relief, and recovery operations within the disaster zone. Authorities continue to monitor rivers and downstream flood risks while providing food, medical aid, and other emergency supplies. The flooding has displaced residents and caused extensive damage to transportation and power infrastructure across the affected regions. Officials urge the public to rely solely on verified casualty and missing-person figures as agencies reconcile field reports. As of the latest counts on Monday, Nepal and Tibet together have recorded 919 fatalities and 4,793 individuals missing.