KATHMANDU, Nepal: The Nepal flash flood death toll reached 389 early Friday as rescuers searched for nearly 1,000 missing people across Nepal and neighbouring Tibet. This search followed a Himalayan glacier collapse.
The disaster began Wednesday morning. A collapsing glacier unleashed rock, ice, mud and water through mountain river systems. This destroyed villages, roads, bridges and power stations along the route linking Kathmandu with Lhasa in Tibet.
At least 540 foreigners were among those missing across the affected areas, according to authorities. Nepal deployed helicopters to search isolated valleys and deliver emergency supplies. Rescue teams using heavy machinery and sniffer dogs recovered bodies downstream.
Officials also warned that the flood could trigger another disaster. Nepal’s disaster management authority said debris had blocked the Bhotekoshi River, creating a rising lake that could burst.
Chinese authorities said about 3 million cubic metres of additional water was expected to enter another dammed lake over three days. Furthermore, state media, citing China’s water resources ministry, said the risk of a breach was high. Peak flow was expected around September 1.
In Tibet’s Gyirong County, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported 558 people missing, including 260 foreign nationals. Three deaths had been confirmed on the Chinese side.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the disaster-hit Gyirong area on Thursday. Meanwhile, rescue teams worked to clear access roads to the heavily damaged border crossing.
Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah, visiting flood-hit Nuwakot on Thursday, said state agencies were operating at full capacity. Their priorities were focused on rescuing survivors, finding missing people, treating the injured and delivering emergency relief.
🚨 NEPAL FLASH FLOODS: DEATH TOLL SOARS
🇳🇵 389 DEAD in Nepal’s flash floods
🔎 977+ STILL MISSING
🇮🇳 290+ INDIANS MISSING in Nepal
🪖 13,295+ SECURITY PERSONNEL deployed
🚁 1,196 PEOPLE EVACUATED by helicopters@NewsGridLive pic.twitter.com/qBsuJ5zXMc
— NewsGrid (@News_Grid_Live) August 28, 2026In Chitwan district, about 100 kilometres from the hardest-hit Trishuli region, administrator Ganesh Aryal said authorities had recovered 103 bodies carried downstream by the river system. In addition, temporary facilities were being prepared because local hospitals could not accommodate all the dead.
India, Australia and South Korea were among countries sending assistance and rescue teams. Meanwhile, families in more than two dozen countries sought information about missing relatives.
Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah, visiting flood-hit Nuwakot on Thursday, said state agencies were operating at full capacity. He said priorities were focused on rescuing survivors, finding missing people, treating the injured and delivering emergency relief.
Read: Nepal-Tibet Floods Kill 165, Nearly 1,500 Missing
In Chitwan district, about 100 kilometres from the hardest-hit Trishuli region, administrator Ganesh Aryal said authorities had recovered 103 bodies carried downstream by the river system. Additionally, temporary facilities were being prepared because local hospitals could not accommodate all the dead.
India, Australia and South Korea were among countries sending assistance and rescue teams. Meanwhile, families in more than two dozen countries sought information about missing relatives.
