Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Nepal Flood Disaster Leaves 5,000 Missing After Two Weeks
Severe floods struck Nepal’s Bhote Koshi region on August 26.
More than two weeks later, about 5,000 people are still missing.
Around 600 of the missing people are foreigners from about 35 countries.
Rescuers have found 1,385 bodies.
Only about 100 bodies have been returned to families because identifying the dead is difficult.
Teams are searching tunnels and hydropower projects where workers may still be trapped.
Mud, rocks, buried structures and hard-to-reach land are slowing the searches.
Rescue teams from several countries are helping Nepal.
Roads, bridges, electricity and phone connections were also badly damaged, although some connections are returning.
Nepal’s Bhote Koshi floods on August 26 left about 5,000 people missing, including roughly 600 foreign nationals from 35 countries.
Authorities have recovered 1,385 bodies, but only about 100 have been handed over to families.
Search teams continue looking at hydropower projects and tunnels in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.
International rescue teams from India, China, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Australia are assisting Nepal.
Flood damage to roads, bridges, electricity and telecommunications remains severe, while tunnel searches are hindered by mud, debris and difficult terrain.
- Who
- Nepalese authorities, domestic rescue teams and international teams are searching for missing people; about 600 missing people are foreign nationals.
- What
- The Bhote Koshi floods killed at least 1,385 people whose bodies were recovered and left about 5,000 people missing.
- When
- The floods occurred on August 26, and the search was continuing more than two weeks later.
- Where
- The disaster affected Nepal, especially districts including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Chitwan, Nawalparasi East and Nawalparasi West; flooding also killed people on the Chinese side.
- Why
- Searches continue because people may remain trapped or unaccounted for in hydropower tunnels and other buried structures.
- Missing in Nepal
- About 5,000 people, including roughly 600 foreign nationals from around 35 countries.
- Bodies recovered
- 1,385 bodies have been recovered.
- Bodies returned
- Around 100 bodies have been handed over to families.
- Flood date
- August 26.
- Most affected district by recoveries
- Chitwan, with 364 bodies recovered.
- International assistance
- Rescue teams from India, China, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Australia are assisting Nepal.
- Infrastructure damage
- Roads, bridges, electricity and telecommunications remain badly affected.