KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – Flooding across Nepal and Tibet has resulted in at least 919 fatalities, with 4,793 individuals still unaccounted for. Nepal reports 903 deaths and 4,247 missing persons following the disaster on August 26. In Gyirong County, Tibetan authorities confirm 16 deaths and 546 missing residents. Search teams are actively working in damaged mountain regions, river valleys, and hydroelectric sites. Casualty numbers are being updated as rescuers reach previously inaccessible areas and verify reports of missing persons.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority stated that 10,451 people have been rescued and brought to safety. The total includes 252 foreign nationals. Authorities have listed 592 foreigners among those still missing in Nepal. Additionally, 933 workers related to hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors are also reported missing. There have been 267 injuries officially recorded, and 156 people have been discharged after treatment. Over 20,000 security personnel are supporting rescue, recovery, and relief efforts.
The flooding began early on August 26 near the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa District. Rapid-moving waters caused widespread destruction. Homes, roads, bridges, power facilities, and other infrastructure were damaged. Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha experienced severe impacts as floodwaters surged through connected river systems. Gyirong County in Tibet, close to the Nepal border, was also affected. Rescue teams on both sides continue to search communities, valleys, and work sites. Difficult terrain and damaged roads have hindered access to some affected areas.
Search operations remain focused on hydropower sites
Rescue teams are prioritizing hydropower facilities where many workers are still missing. The Nepal Army is working alongside tunnel rescue specialists from India, China, and South Korea. Authorities estimate at least 90 people are trapped in multiple hydropower tunnels. Debris, mud, and rocks have blocked access to several sites. Rescuers are using drilling equipment, ventilation systems, and heavy machinery. Officials are cross-checking employment records with project operators and families of the missing.
Recovery teams are also working to identify bodies washed downstream by the floodwaters. Twenty-one hospitals hold unidentified remains. Officials are comparing records and collecting DNA samples from relatives. In Chitwan, authorities temporarily buried some bodies after collecting identification data. They continue to reconcile field reports to eliminate duplicates and confirm identities. Rescue teams are examining isolated settlements where damaged infrastructure hampers access. Authorities warn that casualty figures might change as identification work advances.
Foreign nationals are among the large number of missing persons
Foreign citizens make up a significant part of the missing persons lists in Nepal and Tibet. Nepal reports 592 foreign nationals are missing after the floods. Tibetan authorities list 261 foreign citizens among the 546 people still missing in Gyirong County. These include citizens of Nepal, India, Latvia, the United States, and Britain. Officials are exchanging information to verify identities, checking travel records and border movements. Consular representatives are assisting families seeking confirmation about relatives who were in the affected region.
Nepal’s government continues to focus on search, rescue, relief, and recovery efforts in the disaster zone. Teams are delivering food, medical supplies, and emergency aid to affected communities. Authorities are monitoring rivers and assessing damage to transportation, homes, and power infrastructure. Thousands remain displaced or cut off from essential services. Officials urge caution with casualty figures, emphasizing that reports are still being reconciled. The latest official data confirms 919 deaths and 4,793 missing people across Nepal and Tibet.