KATHMANDU / RankWire.AI / – Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has increased the number of people reported missing after the floods on Aug. 26 to 6,150. This updated total surpasses the previous figure of 5,179 by 971. Officials explained that new records from affected districts, verified recently, contributed to this rise. Since the disaster, authorities have also recovered 1,403 bodies. The floods and debris flows caused extensive destruction throughout northern Nepal, especially near the China border.
The identification process has led officials to recognize 105 of the recovered bodies so far, with forensic work ongoing for the remaining victims. The latest government data shows that 3,175 DNA samples have been collected during identification efforts. This includes 1,286 samples from the deceased and 1,889 from relatives of those missing. Since the disaster, 13,742 individuals have been rescued. Among the missing, 587 are foreign nationals, highlighting the international scope of the ongoing search and identification operations.
Records indicate 2,679 missing persons linked to Rasuwa and 1,787 to Nuwakot, districts affected by the late-August catastrophe. Floodwaters and debris damaged settlements, roads, and infrastructure across these mountainous regions. Search teams have persisted in working along river corridors, damaged communities, and sites connected to major hydropower projects. Meanwhile, authorities are also cross-referencing local records with family reports to update the national missing persons list.
Ongoing Search and Identification Activities
The disaster was triggered by a collapse of ice and rock on Mount Langtang Lirung, which initiated a powerful debris flow. This flow entered the Bhotekoshi river system, moving through valleys and downstream communities. Rasuwa faced significant losses due to its location along the Nepal-China border and the flood corridor. Nearby districts affected included Nuwakot, Dhading, and several regions further downstream. The event on Aug. 26 also severely disrupted infrastructure and left thousands in need of rescue or emergency aid.
Official figures indicate that helicopters have conducted 1,923 rescue flights. Authorities have established 29 holding centers for displaced or affected individuals, currently hosting 2,096 people. Nepal Police have played a vital role in supporting search, rescue, and relief efforts, along with conducting community outreach programs in impacted areas. Rescue teams continue their efforts in rugged mountain terrain, while forensic experts process DNA samples to confirm the identities of recovered victims.
Verification of Missing Persons Results in Updated Counts
Following verification of data from affected districts, officials revised the missing persons tally from 5,179 to 6,150, adding 971 individuals to the national record. Efforts are ongoing to distinguish missing persons from confirmed fatalities and identified victims. Forensic teams are matching DNA from recovered bodies with samples provided by relatives, a crucial step in victim identification. As of the latest official update, only 105 of the 1,403 recovered bodies had been formally identified.
The disaster’s impact extended into China, where authorities reported 43 deaths and 519 missing persons. These figures bring the combined Nepal-China total to 1,446 confirmed deaths and at least 6,669 missing. In Nepal, the confirmed counts remain at 6,150 missing persons and 1,403 recovered bodies. Search, rescue, and identification efforts are ongoing across affected zones, with officials reviewing district reports and forensic records to maintain an accurate national tally of those killed, missing, and rescued.