Nepal’s devastating flash floods near the China border have triggered one of the worst natural disasters in the country’s recent history, with the death toll rising to 675 and more than 2,400 people still missing, according to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). Thousands of security personnel, including over 5,000 Nepal Army troops, are battling harsh terrain and intermittent rainfall as search‑and‑rescue operations continue.
Chinese state media reported seven deaths in Tibet, bringing the combined toll across Nepal and Tibet to 682. The number of missing in Nepal includes 517 foreigners, highlighting the scale of the tragedy in a region frequented by trekkers, workers and traders.
Among those missing are 45 Nepal Army personnel, 40 police officers, and 19 immigration and customs officials, underscoring the risks faced by frontline responders. Despite difficult conditions, nearly 2,500 people — including 163 foreigners — have been evacuated from flood‑hit areas.
The disaster was triggered by a glacier collapse, unleashing a massive surge of rock, ice, mud and debris into Himalayan river systems. The torrent swept through settlements near the Nepal‑China border, destroying roads, bridges, and severely damaging major hydropower facilities. Authorities in India have recovered seven bodies from rivers flowing downstream from Nepal, though these are not included in Nepal’s official toll.
Nepal’s government estimates reconstruction costs could reach $5 billion, reflecting the extensive damage to infrastructure and livelihoods. With thousands still missing, rescue teams continue to race against time.