September 1, 2026

The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Nepal has surpassed 1,000, as rescue teams intensify efforts to reach thousands of people still missing or stranded in some of the country's most remote and badly affected areas.

Nepal's disaster management authorities said Tuesday that at least 1,003 people had been confirmed dead, while about 4,000 others remained missing. The missing include approximately 590 foreign nationals from 39 countries.

More than 11,000 people have so far been rescued following the disaster, which struck after a glacier collapse on August 26 triggered a massive flow of ice, rocks, mud and water through parts of the Himalayan nation.

The disaster has caused widespread destruction across towns, valleys and infrastructure, particularly in mountainous areas close to Nepal's border with China.

Rescue teams from Nepal, India and China are working in difficult conditions to reach people trapped in remote locations.

At least 639 people remain stranded at several hydropower stations, which have become a major focus of the ongoing rescue operation.

Specialised teams are using helicopters, heavy machinery, excavators and rock-breaking equipment to reach people believed to be trapped inside tunnels at damaged hydropower facilities.

Nepal's army said teams have been draining water from tunnel entrances and creating new access routes in an effort to reach survivors.

Authorities said 279 workers have already been rescued from hydropower projects, while hundreds more are still believed to be trapped.

The scale of the destruction has made some rescue operations particularly difficult.

A mountain guide assisting rescue efforts at the Trishuli hydropower project told Reuters that entering one of the tunnels was impossible without heavy machinery. He estimated that hundreds of people could still be trapped inside.

More than 9,200 security and emergency personnel have been deployed across affected areas, according to the Nepalese army.

Their responsibilities include searching for survivors, recovering bodies, clearing blocked roads, providing emergency medical assistance and distributing relief supplies.

Some roads and communication networks have now been restored, allowing rescue teams to reach previously isolated communities.

Nuwakot district, one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster, has seen improved road access, helping authorities move emergency supplies and personnel into affected communities.

The human cost, however, remains severe.

A survivor from Rasuwa district described fleeing her home with almost nothing as floodwaters and mud swept through the area. She said the clothes she was wearing were the only ones she had left and were still wet from the rain.

Foreign governments and international teams are increasingly providing specialised assistance as Nepal struggles to cope with the scale of the disaster.

China has been working to reopen access to the Nepal-China border, where difficult mountainous terrain, unstable cliffs and fast-flowing rivers have complicated rescue operations.

Beijing has also announced plans to send DNA identification specialists and additional emergency supplies. The assistance is expected to include drones and water-purification equipment.

South Korea has announced that it will send a 44-member emergency relief team to assist with search-and-rescue operations in the Rasuwa region. Nine South Korean nationals working at a hydropower project in the area are among those reported missing.

Nepal had previously indicated that it did not generally require foreign personnel for search-and-rescue operations but said it needed specialised equipment and technical assistance, including life-detection technology, large refrigeration units and prefabricated bridges.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah said more than $42 million in aid had already reached Nepal following the disaster, with further assistance expected.

The disaster has also renewed concerns about the impact of climate change and instability in the Himalayan region.

Nepal has experienced rapid growth in hydropower development over the past two decades as the country seeks to use its abundant Himalayan water resources to address domestic electricity needs and expand electricity exports to India.

Prime Minister Shah said the disaster demonstrated the growing risks facing Himalayan communities as the planet warms.

He called for greater international attention to disasters linked to climate change.

Chinese state media has also linked the latest flooding to glacier instability associated with long-term global warming.

With thousands still missing and rescue teams continuing to work through unstable terrain, authorities face a race against time to reach survivors, recover victims and deliver assistance to communities cut off by the disaster.

The full extent of the damage is still emerging as rescuers gain access to previously isolated areas.

For additional reporting, updates and expert analysis on the Nepal floods and the wider impact of the disaster, readers can follow coverage from Reuters, BBC, CNN, and other major international news organisations.