The scale of destruction along Nepal’s northern frontier is coming into sharper focus after flooding and mudslides tore through the area, killing hundreds of people and leaving thousands of others unaccounted for.
Death toll nears 700 in catastrophic Nepal-China floods amid search efforts (Video: CNN Newsource)
After Nepali authorities updated their figures on Saturday, the combined toll in Nepal and Tibet rose to 676 dead and nearly 3,000 people missing. Chinese authorities have reported seven deaths and more than 550 missing, while Nepal’s disaster agency said the death toll had climbed to 669 with 2,426 people missing.
More than 3,700 people have been rescued in Nepal so far.
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescuers carry out search and rescue operations at the mudslide-hit area in Gyirong County, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Zheng Lijun/Xinhua via AP)
The disaster hit near Nepal’s border with China earlier this week, with fast-moving water and debris ripping through settlements, damaging roads and bridges, and cutting off access to areas normally reached only by narrow mountain routes.
Search teams have been working through mud, wreckage, and unstable terrain to find survivors and recover victims. The conditions have slowed the effort, forcing rescuers to rely on helicopters and other air support to reach communities separated by washed-out roads.
NUWAKOT, NEPAL – AUGUST 28: An aerial view shows A collapsed bridge following flash floods on August 28, 2026 in DeviGhat village, Nepal. Authorities said the flash floods were triggered after a mass of ice, mud and rock collapsed into a Himalayan river near the Nepal-China border, leaving hundreds dead or missing and causing widespread damage in affected districts. Authorities continued the gruelling search for victims, many buried under metres of mud, as both China and Nepal issued fresh flooding alerts. (Photo by Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images)
Officials said the missing include local residents, workers, and foreign visitors traveling through the region, including Americans. About 90 Americans are among those unaccounted for, according to the U.S. State Department.
Families have gathered at relief sites and hospitals seeking information about relatives swept away or stranded by the flooding.
The emergency has also damaged infrastructure needed for longer-term recovery, including transportation links and hydropower facilities. Authorities face the added challenge of assessing conditions in high-altitude areas where landslides and further flooding remain possible.
The disaster has prompted Nepal to seek outside assistance as crews continue rescue and recovery operations. Chinese authorities also reported deaths and missing people in Tibet, across the border.
The casualty figures are expected to change as teams reach more remote locations.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
