Nepal flood death toll hits 626 as over 2,400 still missing
The latest figures from Nepal’s disaster agency bring the confirmed toll across the border region to 633. Almost 3,000 people remain unaccounted for, meaning the number of deaths could rise further as rescuers reach isolated communities, AP reported on Saturday.
The disaster began on 26 August, with powerful torrents sweeping through steep river valleys near Nepal’s border with China. Water, mud, ice and rock struck homes, roads, bridges, power facilities and the Gyirong border crossing.
Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah said that by Friday evening, rescuers had saved 4,451 survivors. They included 191 people brought out of a tunnel, according to Nepal’s public broadcaster.
Sixteen military and civilian helicopters have taken part in the operation. Poor weather has repeatedly disrupted flights, however, forcing some rescue teams to use ropes and baskets to reach people trapped in mud-filled structures.
Por lejos, el video más horroroso que vi sobre el alud en Nepal…pic.twitter.com/9nlge67nAX
— Diego Laje (@dlaje1) August 29, 2026
Thousands rescued, many more still missing
An official list published on Friday named more than 500 foreign nationals who were still missing at that stage. They included tourists, pilgrims and workers from dozens of countries, although the figures are changing as rescuers find and identify people.
Nepal will need between $4bn and $5bn to rebuild the affected regions, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle told Reuters.
«This is just an estimate. Loss and damage is being assessed,» he said.
Read more: Nepal’s flood toll had reached 469 as a new lake threatened further flooding.
At least 93,000 people urgently need assistance, according to the International Red Cross. UNICEF estimates that 17,000 children require immediate support after damage to schools, medical facilities and homes.
Early assessments point to a collapse involving glacier ice and rock high in the Himalayas. The falling material appears to have sent a surge of water and debris into the river system, creating or disturbing lakes that later overflowed.
Nepal has lost nearly a third of its glacier ice over the past 30 years. Retreating glaciers can leave unstable lakes and slopes behind, increasing the danger for settlements, roads and power projects built in narrow valleys.
Read more: Melting glaciers expose new dangers for mountain communities.
