Nepal floods death toll crosses 1,000 as thousands still missing

The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Nepal and China has crossed 1,000, while thousands of people remain missing as rescue teams battle unstable terrain, deep mud and destroyed infrastructure across the Himalayan disaster zone.

Nepal’s disaster agency said 987 people had died and 3,916 were missing, including 583 foreigners. China reported 16 deaths and 546 missing people, including 261 foreigners, in its latest update.

The first 72 hours after a disaster are considered critical for rescue operations, and hopes of finding thousands of missing people alive are now fading.

Despite the passage of time, rescue teams continue searching through mud, rocks and debris. Difficult terrain, persistent floodwaters, landslides and bad weather have made operations particularly challenging.

The scale of the destruction has also made it difficult for rescuers to reach remote communities, with roads and bridges washed away and large areas cut off.

Hundreds of hydropower workers feared trapped

One of the biggest rescue efforts is focused on around 900 missing hydropower workers in Nepal, with hundreds feared trapped inside tunnels and underground areas at 12 hydropower projects.

Nepal Army spokesperson Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet said a large amount of debris had accumulated inside the tunnels, making it extremely difficult for rescuers to gain access.

About 250 people were rescued from the Upper Trishuli Hydroelectric Project over the weekend, while army engineers began blasting operations to reach another 42 workers believed to be missing.

According to Nepalese authorities, roughly 500 workers are believed to be trapped inside tunnels at hydropower sites.

Visuals released by the Nepal Army showed rescue teams entering dark, debris-filled tunnels, wading through mud and water and climbing over rocks in search of survivors.

Foreign experts are also assisting Nepalese teams at several hydropower projects.