The death toll from catastrophic floods and landslides along the Nepal-China border has risen to 626 in Nepal, while rescue teams continue searching for thousands of people still missing after a massive flood wave tore through Himalayan communities.
More than 3,700 people have been rescued so far, as military and civilian rescue teams work through mud, debris and damaged infrastructure to reach survivors.
The disaster struck on Wednesday, August 26, after a massive surge of water swept through mountain valleys, destroying homes, roads, bridges and infrastructure before reaching the Nepal-China border and engulfing a major crossing.
Authorities have reported 2,426 people missing in Nepal, while China has recorded another 554 missing people in Tibet leading the totals to around 3,000 people remain unaccounted for across the affected areas.
The missing include local residents, hydropower workers and foreign nationals who were travelling through the region.
Nepal’s missing-person registry was recently expanded to include 933 hydropower workers.
Rescue teams have so far managed to bring more than 3,700 people to safety in Nepal. The operation has involved military helicopters, private aircraft, rubber boats and heavy machinery as authorities attempt to reach communities cut off by the destruction.
At least three American citizens and 85 Indian nationals have reportedly been brought to safety as rescue teams continue searching for others.
The operation has also faced interruptions because of the threat of additional flooding.
Authorities temporarily suspended some rescue operations after concerns emerged over a newly formed lake created by a landslide.
Officials fear that a sudden release of water could trigger another dangerous flood downstream.
Meteorologists are also forecasting more rain, increasing the risk faced by both residents and rescue personnel.
The flooding has caused widespread humanitarian damage. The Red Cross estimates that more than 93,000 people have been affected, with some communities suffering almost complete destruction.
Entire villages have been swept away, leaving residents without homes and cutting off access to essential services.
Roads and bridges have also been destroyed, complicating efforts to deliver food, medicine and emergency supplies to isolated communities.
The disaster has also disrupted Nepal’s critical hydropower sector, with several projects located along rivers and mountain valleys suffering severe damage.
UNICEF estimates that more than 17,000 children urgently need humanitarian assistance following the floods. At least 38 schools have been damaged or destroyed, disrupting education for thousands of children in affected communities.
Nepal has begun receiving international assistance as it struggles to respond to the scale of the disaster.
India has deployed specialized medical personnel, paramedics and tunnel rescue teams to Kathmandu to support the ongoing emergency response.
