KATHMANDU / RankWire.AI / – Nepal has updated its official count of missing persons following the August 26 floods, now listing 6,150 individuals as missing after comprehensive district-level verification. The previous figure was 5,179, which means an additional 971 names have been added to the total. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority provided the revised figures as search and identification efforts are ongoing. Since the disaster, authorities have recovered 1,403 bodies, with 105 victims officially identified.
Forensic teams have collected 3,175 DNA samples to aid in victim identification and to reconcile missing-person records. This total includes 1,286 samples from recovered bodies and 1,889 from relatives of those still missing. Since the disaster struck northern Nepal, officials have also recorded 13,742 rescues. Additionally, 587 foreign nationals are still listed as missing. These figures highlight the extensive search operations carried out in remote mountain districts and communities impacted by floodwaters and debris.
The latest official breakdown shows 2,679 missing persons in Rasuwa, while Nuwakot accounts for 1,787. Both districts experienced severe damage during the late-August floods, which destroyed roads, settlements, bridges, and other vital infrastructure. Search teams have operated across river valleys and damaged areas while authorities review local records. They are cross-referencing family reports, district data, and forensic evidence to update the national tally.
Authorities Expand Missing-Person Count
The disaster was triggered by a massive rock and ice collapse on Langtang Lirung, resulting in a destructive debris flow. This flow entered the Bhotekoshi river system, impacting downstream communities. Rasuwa, located near Nepal’s border with China, experienced some of the worst losses. Nuwakot and Dhading also faced significant flooding impacts. The event caused destruction to homes, transportation routes, and hydropower facilities, prompting large-scale rescue efforts in the challenging mountain terrain.
According to official reports, helicopters have completed 1,923 flights to support rescue and relief activities. Authorities have also set up 29 holding centers for displaced or affected populations, which currently house 2,096 individuals. Nepal Police has played a key role in rescue, relief, and community aid operations across the affected zones. Search teams and forensic experts continue processing records and samples related to those still listed as missing.
DNA Analysis Bolsters Victim Identification Efforts
The rise from 5,179 to 6,150 missing persons follows further collection and verification of information from impacted districts. Authorities distinguish between confirmed deaths and missing persons and continue to formally identify victims. DNA matching remains a crucial part of the identification process for recovered bodies, involving comparison of samples from victims and relatives. In the latest update, only 105 of the 1,403 recovered bodies have been formally identified.
The floods also caused casualties in China, where officials reported 43 deaths and 519 missing persons. The combined figures for Nepal and China now stand at 1,446 confirmed deaths and at least 6,669 missing individuals. Nepal’s current verified totals remain 6,150 missing and 1,403 bodies recovered. Rescue, recovery, and forensic efforts are ongoing across the affected districts. Authorities continue to review district reports, family information, and forensic data as they maintain the official record of the disaster’s impact.