The number of victims in the devastating floods in Nepal has risen sharply. Authorities have confirmed 903 deaths, and another 4247 people are missing. Among the missing are 592 foreigners, and hundreds of workers from hydroelectric power plants who may be trapped in flooded or collapsed tunnels. The destruction of infrastructure, rain, and the threat of further flash floods are complicating rescue efforts.
The latest figures were released on Monday, August 31st, by the Nepalese National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). According to data updated at 9:00 AM, 903 bodies or human remains have been found. The highest number of casualties has so far been found in the Chitwan district, where water carried bodies from mountainous areas hundreds of kilometers away. Rescue workers have managed to bring 10,451 people to safety.
The scope of the search operation remains immense. According to authorities, 933 of the 4247 missing are associated with hydroelectric power plants, 592 are foreign nationals, and there are dozens of soldiers, police officers, or civil servants. Nepal has deployed more than 20,800 members of security forces in rescue and humanitarian operations. Specialized teams from India and China are helping, particularly in the search for people trapped in tunnels at hydroelectric power plant projects.
Rescuers are racing against time
Roads in the most affected areas are completely destroyed or blocked in many places. The head of the NDRRMA, Dharmaraj Upreti, said that helicopters are practically the only way to supply some areas. However, these can only transport a limited amount of material and need safe landing sites. Authorities are therefore airlifting food, medicine, and oxygen tanks.
Another growing problem is the identification and handling of the bodies. Due to the warm and humid weather, the bodies found are decomposing rapidly, and authorities are warning of hygiene and epidemiological risks. Unidentified remains are being collected in hospitals, where rescue workers are taking DNA samples for later identification.
The disaster was triggered by a collapse in the Himalayas
The floods began on August 26th in the area near the Nepal-China border. Initial investigations indicate a massive landslide of rock and ice in the glacier region, which blocked the flow of the Lhende River. After the natural dam broke, an enormous mass of water, mud, rocks, and ice rushed through the Bhotekoshi Valley and then the Trishuli Valley, destroying villages, bridges, roads, and power plants.
The tragedy also affected Chinese Tibet. Local authorities have so far confirmed 16 deaths and 546 missing. The total number of victims in both countries is at least 919 dead and 4793 missing. Rescue teams are also warning that these figures could change significantly in the coming days.