Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Nepal Flood Search Continues as Repairs and Identification Struggle
A very large flood hit Nepal on August 26 near the Nepal-Tibet border.
The water rushed through towns and villages, carrying away homes, cars, roads and bridges.
More than 1,400 people in Nepal died, and about 6,000 people are still unaccounted for.
Rescue workers are searching rivers, piles of debris and damaged hydropower projects.
They recently found 17 bodies inside a muddy tunnel.
The floods also killed people and left many missing in China.
Nepal is repairing 12 bridges to help people reach markets, schools and health services.
Thirty-three other bridges are too badly damaged and must be rebuilt.
Identifying victims is difficult because many bodies were damaged, broken apart or mixed with debris, so DNA testing is being used.
About 6,000 people remain unaccounted for nearly four weeks after Nepal’s August 26 flash floods, which killed more than 1,400 people.
Rescuers recovered 17 bodies from a mud-filled tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project in Rasuwa.
The floods also killed 43 people in China, where more than 500 remain missing, according to Chinese media.
Nepal has started repairing 12 suspension bridges, while 33 others require reconstruction after being damaged beyond repair.
Only about 110 recovered bodies have been identified and returned to families, while nearly 1,300 were temporarily buried after DNA samples were collected.
- Who
- Nepali rescue teams, government authorities, affected residents and victims’ families; people in China were also affected.
- What
- Search and recovery operations continue for about 6,000 missing people while Nepal repairs bridges and identifies recovered bodies.
- When
- The flash floods occurred on August 26, and search, identification and repair efforts continued nearly four weeks later.
- Where
- Northern and central Nepal, including Rasuwa and the Trishuli corridor along the Bhotekoshi River; parts of China were also affected.
- Why
- Floodwaters destroyed or damaged homes, roads, bridges and hydropower facilities, while mud, debris, decomposition and fragmented remains have made recovery and identification difficult.
- People unaccounted for in Nepal
- About 6,000
- Deaths in Nepal
- More than 1,400
- Bodies recovered from Upper Trishuli-1 tunnel
- 17
- Suspension bridges under repair
- 12
- Bridges requiring reconstruction
- 33
- Bodies identified and returned to families
- Around 110
- Bodies temporarily buried after DNA collection
- Nearly 1,300
