Death Toll Reaches 682 as Nepal and Tibet Remain Under Threat of Further Flooding

Nepal’s Disaster Management Authority has reported that the death toll from the catastrophic flash floods has reached 675 people as of Saturday (29/8). This figure does not include seven fatalities in Tibet.

Chinese state media had previously confirmed seven deaths in Tibet from the flooding that occurred on Wednesday (26/8), bringing the overall death toll to 682.

The number of people reported missing in Nepal remains at 2,426, after having surged sharply on Saturday morning local time.

According to Asianetnews, health facilities in the Kathmandu Valley have treated or discharged 140 flood survivors who were referred for further care.

Search and rescue operations remain on high alert. A total of 27 police personnel are still unaccounted for following the disaster. To support operations, the Nepal Police have deployed 4,854 security personnel to the disaster zone.

Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has stated that although the immediate impact of the flooding is beginning to subside, the danger has not passed. Satellite imagery shows that upstream river channels are blocked by debris, forming natural dam lakes. If these dams burst, water could surge down through the Lhende, Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems. Residents have been urged to monitor water levels and follow official warnings.

The government has deployed 13,295 security personnel and 15 helicopters for search, rescue and relief operations. A total of 1,545 people have been successfully rescued. However, 2,381 people — including 644 foreign nationals — remain missing.

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has denied reports circulating that Nepal is refusing international assistance following the disaster. He stressed that Nepal needs broad support, ranging from specialised technical teams to long-term reconstruction aid.

While damage assessments of infrastructure, bridges and power generation facilities are still ongoing, the government has stated that the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund is actively accepting donations through the official online portal. Minister Khanal emphasised that outside the affected river valleys, the rest of Nepal remains operational and “open to foreign nationals, travellers and tourists”.