KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The combined death toll from flooding in Nepal and Tibet has now reached at least 919, with 4,793 individuals still unaccounted for. In Nepal alone, 903 deaths have been confirmed, and 4,247 are listed as missing following the catastrophe on August 26. Meanwhile, authorities in Tibet have verified 16 fatalities and 546 people missing in Gyirong County. Search operations persist in mountainous regions, river valleys, and hydropower sites damaged by the floods. Casualty figures have been updated as rescue teams access previously unreachable areas and verify reports of missing persons.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that rescue efforts have evacuated 10,451 individuals to safety. The total includes 252 foreign nationals. Authorities indicate 592 foreigners remain among those missing in Nepal. They also note 933 workers connected to hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors are unaccounted for. The number of injured has reached 267, with 156 people having been discharged after receiving medical treatment. Over 20,000 security personnel are engaged in rescue, recovery, and relief efforts.
The flooding incident began early on August 26 in the Bhote Koshi River region within Rasuwa District. Rapid-flowing waters caused extensive damage to homes, roads, bridges, power facilities, and other vital infrastructure. Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts were among the most affected as floodwaters surged through interconnected river systems. The disaster also impacted Gyirong County in Tibet near the Nepal border. Search teams on both sides of the border continue working through communities, valleys, and work sites, though access remains challenging due to destroyed roads and rugged terrain.
Focus remains on hydropower facilities during rescue efforts
Operators are concentrating heavily on hydropower sites, where a significant number of workers remain missing. The Nepal Army is collaborating with tunnel rescue specialists from India, China, and South Korea. Officials estimate at least 90 individuals are trapped inside multiple hydropower tunnels. Blockages of mud, rocks, and debris have hindered entry at several locations. Rescue teams employ drilling equipment, ventilation systems, and heavy machinery as part of their operation. Authorities are also cross-referencing employment records with reports from project managers 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, with officials comparing records and information provided by relatives. In Chitwan, authorities have collected DNA samples and other identifying data before temporarily burying some victims. Efforts continue to reconcile field reports, eliminate duplicate records, and verify identities. Search teams are also investigating isolated settlements where damaged bridges and roads have slowed access. Authorities caution that casualty numbers may be updated as identification procedures progress.
Foreign nationals remain among the thousands unaccounted for
Foreign citizens constitute a notable portion of those missing in Nepal and Tibet. Nepal’s report states that 592 foreign nationals are among the missing following the floods. In Gyirong County, Tibetan authorities list 261 foreign citizens among the 546 people still unaccounted for. Those include nationals from Nepal, India, Latvia, the United States, and Britain. Officials are exchanging details based on travel records and border crossings, with consular representatives assisting families seeking confirmation of relatives’ whereabouts in the affected zones.
Nepal’s government remains committed to ongoing search, rescue, relief, and recovery operations across the impacted regions. Teams are distributing food, medical supplies, and emergency aid to affected communities. Monitoring of rivers continues, along with assessments of damage to transportation routes, residences, and power infrastructure. Thousands of individuals remain displaced or cut off from essential services. Officials emphasize the importance of relying on verified casualty data as agencies continue reconciling reports. The latest official figures confirm 919 deaths and 4,793 missing persons across Nepal and Tibet.