KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – Flooding across Nepal and Tibet has caused at least 919 deaths, with 4,793 individuals still unaccounted for. Following the disaster on August 26, Nepal has documented 903 fatalities and 4,247 people missing. In Gyirong County, Tibetan authorities have confirmed 16 deaths and 546 individuals missing. Search operations persist across devastated mountain regions, river valleys, and hydropower locations. As rescue teams access previously unreachable areas and verify reports of missing persons, officials have updated casualty figures accordingly.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that rescue efforts have brought 10,451 individuals to safety. This total includes 252 foreign nationals. Authorities list 592 foreigners among those still missing in Nepal. Additionally, 933 missing workers are associated with hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors. Officials have recorded 267 injuries, with 156 people discharged after treatment. Over 20,000 security personnel are involved in rescue, recovery, and relief efforts.
The initial flooding struck the Bhote Koshi River area in Rasuwa District early on August 26. Rapid-flowing waters caused extensive damage to homes, roads, bridges, power stations, and other infrastructure. Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha experienced significant impacts as floodwaters moved through interconnected river systems. Gyirong County in Tibet, near the Nepal border, was also affected. Rescue teams from both Nepal and Tibet continue their search through communities, valleys, and work sites. Difficult terrain and damaged roads have hindered access to several of the affected zones.
Hydropower facilities remain a key focus of search efforts
Rescue teams are concentrating heavily on hydropower installations, where numerous workers remain unaccounted for. Nepal Army personnel are collaborating with tunnel rescue experts from India, China, and South Korea. Officials estimate that at least 90 individuals are trapped within multiple hydropower tunnels. Blockages caused by mud, rocks, and debris have made access difficult at various sites. During operations, rescue teams have deployed drilling tools, ventilation systems, and heavy machinery. Authorities are cross-checking employment records with reports from project managers and workers’ families to identify missing persons.
Recovery efforts also involve locating bodies carried downstream during the floods. Twenty-one hospitals are currently holding unidentified remains, with officials comparing them against records and relatives’ information. In Chitwan, DNA samples and identification data have been collected before bodies were temporarily buried. Authorities continue to reconcile field reports to eliminate duplicate entries and verify identities. Search teams are also inspecting isolated settlements where damaged infrastructure has slowed movement. Officials caution that confirmed figures may fluctuate as identification processes proceed.
Foreign nationals remain among the thousands unaccounted for
Foreign citizens constitute a significant portion of the missing persons list in Nepal and Tibet. Nepal reports 592 foreign nationals missing following the floods, while Tibetan authorities list 261 foreign citizens among the 546 individuals still unaccounted for in Gyirong County. These include nationals from Nepal, India, Latvia, the United States, and Britain. Officials are exchanging identity details while reviewing travel records and border movements. Consular officials are also assisting families seeking confirmation about relatives who were in the affected region.
Nepal’s government continues to prioritize search, rescue, relief, and recovery operations throughout the disaster zone. Teams are providing food, medical supplies, and emergency assistance to affected communities. Authorities are also monitoring river conditions and assessing damage to transportation links, homes, and power infrastructure. Thousands remain displaced or cut off from essential services. Officials urge reliance on verified casualty figures as agencies work to reconcile reports. The latest confirmed totals indicate 919 deaths and 4,793 missing persons across Nepal and Tibet.