Nepal flood death toll rises to 734 as 2,498 people remain missing

Nepal flood death toll rises to 734 as 2,498 people remain missing

The death toll from devastating floods in Nepal has risen to 734, while another 2,498 people remain missing, according to the country’s disaster management authorities.

The latest figures were released as emergency responders continued search-and-rescue operations across several parts of Nepal affected by severe flooding, landslides and powerful torrents of water and debris.

The Nepal flood disaster has caused widespread destruction, damaging homes, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure and leaving several communities difficult to access.

Authorities said Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan are among the areas severely affected by the disaster.

Rescue teams have been working in difficult conditions as heavy rainfall, rising river levels and unstable terrain continue to create additional risks for emergency personnel and people living in vulnerable areas.

Officials have also raised concerns about further flooding following renewed increases in water levels in the Bhotekoshi River, urging people in at-risk communities to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions.

The disaster has been particularly challenging because of the mountainous terrain. Landslides have blocked roads and destroyed bridges, limiting access to some affected communities and making it harder for rescuers to reach people who may still be trapped or stranded.

In several locations, floodwaters have carried large quantities of mud, rocks and other debris through populated areas, destroying buildings and sweeping away vehicles and other property.

Rescue teams have been using helicopters and other emergency resources to reach isolated communities, evacuate residents and deliver essential supplies to areas where road access has been disrupted.

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Search operations are also continuing at sites where people are believed to have been trapped following the flooding and landslides.

One of the major areas of concern is the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric project, where workers are believed to have been trapped inside tunnels following the disaster. Emergency teams have been attempting to reach the affected areas despite the difficult conditions.

The floods have also had consequences beyond Nepal, with neighbouring Tibet reporting deaths and missing people following a major landslide and flooding in the Himalayan region.

The scale of the disaster has raised concerns about the vulnerability of communities living in mountainous areas, where heavy rainfall, landslides, glacial activity and rapidly rising rivers can combine to produce sudden and destructive flooding.

The continuing rainfall is adding to those concerns, with authorities monitoring rivers, unstable slopes and other areas considered vulnerable to additional landslides or flash floods.

Emergency agencies have deployed security personnel, rescue workers and other responders to assist affected communities. Helicopters are also being used where necessary to evacuate people from locations cut off by damaged roads and bridges.

The humanitarian response is focused on finding missing people, recovering victims, evacuating residents from dangerous areas and providing food, water, shelter and medical assistance to survivors.

The large number of people still reported missing has heightened fears that the death toll could increase as rescue teams gain access to areas that remain difficult to reach.

Families across affected communities are also waiting for information about relatives whose whereabouts remain unknown.

The disaster has left thousands of people facing the loss of homes, livelihoods and essential infrastructure, while authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage.

The Nepal floods have therefore developed into a major humanitarian emergency, with rescue and relief operations expected to continue as authorities work to reach isolated communities and reduce the risk of further loss of life.

Officials have urged residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas to remain vigilant, avoid dangerous waterways and move to safer locations when instructed as weather conditions and river levels continue to be monitored.

Nepal flood death toll rises to 734 as 2,498 people remain missing