Flash Floods in Nepal and China: 633 Dead, Nearly 3,000 Missing
The death toll from devastating flash floods and landslides hitting Nepal and China has been reported to have risen to 633 as of Saturday (30/8). In addition to the fatalities, local authorities have noted that almost 3,000 people remain missing amidst ongoing search efforts.
In Nepal, the impact of the disaster appears most severe. According to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) cited by the Kathmandu Post, the death toll in the country has reached 6_26. Meanwhile, 2,426 people are reported to be still missing.
Search teams continue their efforts to locate bodies carried away by the rapid currents of overflowing rivers. The Chitwan and Nawalparasi East regions have been identified as the most severely affected areas. Dozens of victims were also found in Gorkha, Dhading, and Nuwakot after the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, which originate in the Himalayas, overflowed into residential settlements.
The crisis also involves many foreign nationals. India has reported that 320 of its citizens are missing in Nepal. Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that, in addition to this number, approximately 100 people of Indian descent with other nationalities are also unreachable.
On the other hand, the Nepal Department of Tourism reported the latest developments in rescue efforts for foreign nationals following the massive flash floods. As of Saturday (29/8) at 18:00 local time, 261 foreign tourists have been successfully evacuated safely.
An official statement released via the X platform noted that the identification process for survivors is ongoing.
Details of the foreign tourist evacuations, based on reports from the Nepal Department of Tourism as of 29 August 2026, show that the rescued tourists originate from various countries, including India, China, Spain, the United States, Russia, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, and Switzerland. Authorities noted that 21 survivors have nationalities that are yet to be confirmed and are currently undergoing document verification.
The Nepalese government continues to coordinate with the embassies of relevant countries to update manifest data for climbers and tourists who were on trekking routes when the disaster occurred. Aerial search operations using helicopters remain on standby, provided weather conditions permit, to sweep the most severely affected mountainous areas.
Rescue efforts have successfully evacuated dozens of Indian nationals, including 63 workers from the Trishuli-1 hydroelectric power plant (PLTA) project. However, the Independent Power Producers Association reported that 934 people associated with 11 hydroelectric plant locations in Nepal remain missing.
Meanwhile, in China, the Xinhua news agency reported seven deaths and 554 others missing. Disruptions to electrical and communication infrastructure have been the primary obstacles in updating the number of survivors and missing persons.
The Nepalese government has now approved the entry of international search and rescue teams following significant pressure from the global community. A total of 4,811 security personnel have been deployed across various affected regions, although 27 police officers are reported missing in the line of duty.
The International Red Cross estimates that approximately 93,000 people have been affected overall. The casualty figures are expected to change as rescue teams reach isolated areas and communication networks in the mountainous regions are restored.