4 days ago
Nepal-Tibet Flood Death Toll Reaches 691
A huge flood of mud, rocks, ice and water swept through parts of Nepal and Tibet on August 26.
It destroyed homes, roads, bridges and hydropower facilities.
Authorities now say 691 people have died, and more than 3,000 are still missing.
Rescue workers have saved more than 3,700 people in Nepal.
Bad weather, steep mountains and blocked roads are making the search difficult.
More than 100 workers may still be trapped inside hydropower tunnels.
A new lake formed by piles of debris created fears that another flood could happen.
The water level later fell, but officials said the danger was not completely over.
Seven bodies believed to be linked to the disaster were also found in rivers in India.
The August 26 disaster killed 691 people in Nepal and Tibet, according to the latest figures.
Nepal reported 675 deaths and 2,498 missing, while China reported 16 deaths and 546 missing in Gyirong.
More than 3,700 people have been rescued in Nepal, but poor weather and damaged terrain continue to hinder operations.
Rescuers are searching hydropower tunnels for more than 100 people, though reports differ on the specific project sites involved.
A debris-created lake briefly threatened downstream communities and rescue teams, while seven suspected victims were recovered from rivers in India.
- Who
- Residents, workers, tourists and Mount Kailash pilgrims were affected; Nepali, Chinese and Indian authorities are conducting rescue and recovery operations.
- What
- Flash floods and debris flows killed 691 people and left more than 3,000 missing across Nepal and Tibet.
- Where
- The worst-affected areas are along the Nepal-China border, including Nepal's Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts and China's Gyirong county; some victims were carried into rivers in India.
- When
- The disaster struck on August 26, 2026; the latest figures were reported on August 30, during the fifth day of rescue operations.
- Why
- The US Geological Survey said a rapid slope failure involving a glacier likely unleashed ice, rock and water into downstream river valleys, though it said the event's exact classification remains unclear.
Key facts
- Latest reported toll
- 691 deaths combined: 675 in Nepal and 16 in Tibet, according to the latest authorities' figures.
- People missing
- Nepal reported 2,498 missing people and China reported 546 missing in Gyirong, totaling 3,044.
- Rescue progress
- More than 3,700 people have been rescued in Nepal.
- Hydropower emergency
- More than 100 people may remain trapped in mud-filled tunnels; reports identify the Trishuli 3A, Trishuli 3B or Upper Trishuli-1 sites differently.
- Further flood threat
- A lake formed by debris near the Nepal-China border briefly threatened downstream communities and rescue operations; Chinese authorities later said its water level had fallen.
- International assistance
- India and China sent specialist teams, while India provided relief supplies and offered technical assistance.
- Deaths in India
- Indian authorities recovered seven bodies from rivers flowing from Nepal.
Quotes
Biraj Bhakta Shrestha
Nepal's energy minister
“Today is the third day and we don't know anything. Hopefully he is in a safe place. We lost everything. He is our everything.”
deccanchronicle.com
“rescue efforts are going on in multiple tunnel sites.”
wionews.com
Sivaranjani Muthunathan
A pilgrim who was travelling toward the Chinese border when the flood struck
“I don't care for wealth. I just want my son back. If any of you could rescue my son, please do it for me.”
deccanchronicle.com
“Then there was fog, smoke, something that seemed to suddenly engulf us.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
Nepal-Tibet floods: Death toll nears 700, over 3,000 remain missing as rescuers battle poor weather
Nepal-Tibet flood disaster: Death toll hits 586, over 2,400 missing as rescue effort faces fresh flood threat
Nepal Floods Live: Death Toll Nears 600, Missing Top 2,400
Nepal-Tibet Floods: Death Toll Rises To 691; Nearly 3,000 Missing As Rescue Enters Day 5
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