Nepal flood death toll hits 1,220 as nearly 4,800 remain missing

THE death toll from devastating floods and mudslides in Nepal has risen to 1,220, with 4,762 people still missing more than a week after the disaster struck.

The latest figures include 844 foreigners among those unaccounted for, highlighting the scale of the catastrophe as rescue teams continue searching disaster-hit areas.

The floods and landslides have destroyed homes, roads, bridges and hydropower facilities, while cutting off remote communities and disrupting communications.

Rescuers are focusing on hydropower projects where hundreds of workers are believed to remain trapped inside tunnels and other structures.

Reuters reported that teams were racing to reach about 900 workers believed to be trapped in hydropower tunnels, with some chambers thought to still contain air, food and water.

International rescue teams from India, China and the United States have joined Nepal’s efforts, while authorities are working to restore access to areas isolated by the disaster.

Neighbouring Tibet has also suffered widespread devastation, with China reporting deaths and hundreds of people missing.

With the number of missing people still far exceeding the confirmed death toll, rescue efforts are increasingly focused on areas where survivors could remain trapped or cut off from the outside world. - September 3, 2026