KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The toll from flooding in Nepal and Tibet has climbed to at least 919 fatalities, with 4,793 individuals still unaccounted for. Nepal’s records show 903 deaths and 4,247 missing persons following the disaster that occurred on August 26. Meanwhile, authorities in Tibet have reported 16 deaths and 546 missing people in Gyirong County. Search and rescue teams continue their efforts across the damaged mountainous regions, river valleys, and hydroelectric sites. Officials have updated the casualty figures as rescue operations reach previously inaccessible areas and verify reports of missing persons.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority confirmed that rescue teams have evacuated 10,451 individuals to safety. This number includes 252 foreigners. Officials list 592 foreign nationals among those still missing in Nepal, and they also account for 933 missing workers associated with hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors. A total of 267 injuries have been documented, with 156 people having been discharged after medical treatment. Over 20,000 security personnel are engaged in supporting rescue, recovery, and relief operations in affected regions.
The floods struck the Bhote Koshi River basin in Rasuwa District early on August 26, causing widespread destruction to homes, roads, bridges, power facilities, and other critical infrastructure. Major impacts were felt across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts as floodwaters moved through interconnected river systems. The disaster also affected Gyirong County in Tibet near the Nepal border. Search teams on both sides continue to investigate communities, valleys, and work sites. The difficult terrain and damaged roads have complicated access to many of the impacted locations.
Hydropower facilities remain a primary focus of search activities
Rescue efforts are concentrated heavily on hydropower plants, where many workers are still missing. The Nepal Army, collaborating with tunnel rescue experts from India, China, and South Korea, reports that at least 90 individuals remain trapped inside multiple hydropower tunnels. Heavy debris, mud, and rocks have obstructed access at several sites. Rescuers are employing drilling tools, ventilation systems, and heavy machinery during the operation. Authorities are cross-referencing employment records with reports from project operators and families of missing workers to verify identities.
Additionally, recovery teams are working to identify bodies that have been swept downstream by the floodwaters. Twenty-one hospitals currently hold unidentified remains, with officials comparing these to records and information provided by relatives. In Chitwan, authorities have collected DNA samples and identification details before burying some bodies temporarily. Efforts continue to reconcile field reports, eliminate duplicates, and confirm identities. Search teams are also investigating isolated settlements where access remains hindered by damaged infrastructure. Officials have cautioned that casualty figures may change as verification progresses.
Foreign nationals among the missing
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. Among those missing are citizens of Nepal, India, Latvia, the United States, and Britain. Officials are exchanging identification details, reviewing travel records, and border movements. Consular representatives are providing assistance to families seeking confirmation of relatives who were in the affected area.
Nepal’s government remains focused on continuing search, rescue, relief, and recovery efforts across the impacted regions. Relief supplies such as food, medical aid, and other emergency resources are being delivered to communities in need. Authorities are closely monitoring river conditions while teams evaluate the extent of damage to transportation links, residences, and power infrastructure. Thousands remain displaced or cut off from essential services. Officials emphasize the importance of relying on verified casualty figures as agencies work to reconcile reports. The latest official numbers confirm 919 deaths and 4,793 missing persons across Nepal and Tibet.