Nepal Flash Flood Live Updates: Toll rises to 616, rescuers find ‘nothing but ruins’ along border

Nepal’s rescue operations have entered their fourth day as the death toll climbs to 616 and more than 2,000 people remain missing, including hundreds of foreign nationals.

Flood in Nepal Live News Updates: The death toll from catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border has risen to 616, Nepal’s disaster relief agency said, as the country’s rescue efforts stretch into their fourth day. At least 2,000 people remain missing, including 517 foreign nationals, though officials caution that figures are shifting quickly and different agencies have reported varying numbers. Across the border in Tibet, Chinese authorities report five deaths and 558 people still missing.

As search-and-rescue operations continue in difficult mountain terrain, governments and aid organisations worldwide have begun mobilising significant humanitarian support for the recovery effort.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU is committing €2m (£1.7m) in immediate humanitarian aid, saying it would deliver what she called lifesaving support to the hardest-hit communities. The US embassy in Nepal said it has already sent an initial shipment of relief supplies, including more than 2.5 tonnes of food and materials for two schools in Rasuwa now serving as shelters.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it has mobilised its entire global network and launched an emergency appeal for CHF 25m (£23m; $31m) to fund the immediate response.

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Also read | Express in Nepal: At search & rescue hub, helicopters and the stench of death

Here are five key points on the developing situation:

• Canada has pledged C$5m (£2.7m) in support, while New Zealand is contributing NZ$1m to the Nepal Red Cross Society and another NZ$1m to other aid groups.
• India has sent a third flight carrying 10 tonnes of humanitarian aid, along with 11 doctors, paramedics, and a reconnaissance team for tunnel rescue operations.
• Nepal’s disaster relief agency now puts the death toll at 579, with 1,924 people missing, including 517 foreign nationals.
• Chinese state media report five deaths and 558 people missing across the border in Tibet.
• The Red Cross has launched a global emergency appeal for CHF 25m as international donors continue pledging support.

Live Updates
Aug 29, 2026 09:27 AM IST
Death toll rises to 616, nearly 2,000 still missing

The death toll from Wednesday’s devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 616, according to reports from the BBC, a sharp increase from the previous toll of 579. Nearly 2,000 people remain missing as rescue and search operations continue across the worst-hit areas.

Aug 29, 2026 09:16 AM IST
Foreign help sought for tunnel rescue, DNA testing and body storage

Nepal needs foreign assistance in specialised and technical areas following the devastating floods, but not for general search-and-rescue operations, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told Reuters. He said Kathmandu has sought help with rescuing people trapped in tunnels, restoring transport and communication links, identifying bodies, DNA testing and storing bodies for longer periods.

“We have already made requests for such specialised services and technical assistance in areas where we don't have enough expertise and technical knowhow," Khanal said on Friday.

Nepal has also asked India and China for Bailey bridges to restore transport and communication in areas where around two dozen bridges have been destroyed. Khanal said some people may still be trapped inside hydropower tunnels and Nepal needs specialised equipment and technical expertise for such operations.

On the growing number of recovered bodies, Khanal said, “More bodies are likely to be recovered from these places where hospitals have been overwhelmed with dead bodies and lack refrigerators to store them.”

Khanal said Nepal would need foreign support for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the aftermath of the disaster.

Aug 29, 2026 08:59 AM IST
WHO official describes Nuwakot devastation, says people ‘in dire need of support’

“The whole village seems to have been washed away. There are families that have been washed away. The health facilities have been washed away, and people are in dire need of support,” Dr Balwinder Singh Chawla, team lead at the World Health Organization in Nepal, told CNN on Friday.

The WHO is assessing the needs of affected communities and responding with emergency assistance, including health kits, tents and other essential supplies being brought in through Kathmandu.

Aug 29, 2026 08:48 AM IST
Survivors flown to safety, families wait anxiously for missing loved ones

At a military rescue hub in Nuwakot, helicopters are carrying survivors from flood-hit areas while families continue to wait for news of missing relatives. Nepal’s death toll has reached 579, with 1,924 people still missing, according to authorities.

The Nepal Army and other security forces have rescued 4,451 people, including 517 by air on Friday. Sixteen army and private helicopters carried out 99 flights as teams searched valleys and hills cut off by destroyed roads and bridges.

The rescue centre is also where families are gathering to identify missing people. Bodies recovered from the disaster have been brought to the facility, while survivors are registered and provided basic medical care before being airlifted to Kathmandu if needed.

Meanwhile, rescue teams continue to search for people trapped or missing in some of the worst-hit areas, even as difficult terrain, debris and the risk of further flooding complicate operations. Read more

Aug 29, 2026 08:17 AM IST
Death toll nears 600 as rescue operations continue

The death toll from Wednesday’s devastating flash floods has risen to 579 in Nepal, with 1,924 people still missing. The floods, triggered by a glacier collapse, swept through Himalayan valleys, destroying homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.

Rescue operations are continuing across affected areas, although difficult terrain and damaged infrastructure are hampering access. Meanwhile, authorities remain on alert over the risk of further flooding. A barrier lake formed by debris began overflowing, briefly forcing rescue operations in Nepal and China to be suspended. Operations have since resumed, but officials are continuing to monitor other potentially dangerous lakes upstream.

Nepal has also been searching for people trapped inside a flood-hit hydropower tunnel in Rasuwa, while helicopters and security personnel continue evacuation and rescue efforts. Read more

Aug 29, 2026 07:57 AM IST
Nepal floods: Everything we know so far

If you’re just joining us, here are the latest updates on the Nepal-Tibet flash floods:

Death toll nears 600: The latest figures put the death toll at 579 in Nepal, with seven more deaths reported in Tibet. The number of missing in Nepal has risen to 1,924, including 517 foreign tourists, who are reported to be still missing.
Rescue operations continue: Nepal has deployed thousands of security personnel, helicopters, heavy machinery and search teams. More than 3,700 people have been rescued, although damaged roads, difficult terrain and poor access continue to hamper operations.
Hydropower tunnel rescue: Around 100 people were feared trapped inside a flood-hit hydropower project tunnel in Rasuwa. The Nepal Army has managed to rescue 2 people from the tunnel as search operations continue for the remaining.
Fresh flood threat: The disaster created a barrier lake upstream. Its overflow temporarily forced Nepal and China to halt rescue operations because of fears of another surge. Operations were later resumed after officials judged the immediate risk manageable, but authorities continue to monitor other potentially dangerous lakes.
Chinese rescuers reach devastated border crossing: A 21-member Chinese rescue team finally reached the Gyirong border crossing and described finding “nothing but ruins” after navigating destroyed roads, forests and cliffs.
Foreign rescue assistance: Nepal initially said its own security agencies could handle search-and-rescue operations and declined foreign rescue teams, although several countries offered assistance. International humanitarian aid is still being provided.
Humanitarian crisis growing: More than 90,000 people are estimated to have been affected, with the UN and aid agencies scaling up food, water and emergency assistance.

Aug 29, 2026 07:32 AM IST
Chinese rescuers find ‘nothing but ruins’ at devastated border crossing

A Chinese rescue team reached the flood-hit Gyirong border crossing on Friday for the first time since Wednesday’s devastating glacier collapse, finding the complex almost completely destroyed. A team of 21 rescuers and a search-and-rescue dog navigated forests, cliffs and damaged routes to reach the site, where a rescue worker said there was “nothing but ruins.”

The disaster has killed at least 579 people in Nepal and seven in Tibet, while 1,924 people are missing in Nepal and another 558 are unaccounted for in Tibet’s Gyirong County, according to Reuters. More than 90,000 people are estimated to have been affected.

Rescue operations in Nepal and China were briefly suspended after a barrier lake began overflowing into nearby rivers, raising fears of another flood. Operations later resumed after authorities judged the immediate risk to be manageable.

Nepal is continuing to monitor two barrier lakes upstream, with officials warning that the flood threat could persist until they drain completely. Meanwhile, China’s President Xi Jinping has ordered stronger monitoring of glacier lakes and landslide risks as authorities step up efforts to prevent further disasters.

Aug 29, 2026 06:28 AM IST
Drone video captured moment Himalayan glacier collapsed before deadly Nepal-Tibet floods

A massive glacier collapse high in the Himalayas has been captured on drone video, offering new clues to what triggered the devastating floods that swept through Nepal and Tibet this week.

The footage, authenticated by BBC Verify, shows a landslide near the Langtang Lirung peak, more than 7,200 metres above sea level, with huge plumes of dust rising from the snow-covered mountains. The location of the videos matches the direction of the floodwater that later surged down the Trishuli river system, according to BBC Verify.

Aug 29, 2026 05:21 AM IST
Indian nationals' latest update, rescue efforts at 10 pm

Update on Indian nationals impacted by Nepal floods as of 10:00 pm

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