573 workers trapped or missing at 11 Nepal hydropower sites after flash floods

As a result of a glacial collapse in the Himalayas, a deadly torrent swept through river systems in Nepal and Tibet, leading to nearly 3,000 people missing or dead. In Nepal, 675 have been confirmed killed in floods, while seven individuals have been confirmed dead in Tibet by Chinese state media, raising the total fatalities to 682. Seven bodies have also been recovered in India from rivers originating in Nepal, believed to be victims of the floods.

The number of missing persons in both Nepal and Tibet has risen to nearly 3,000, including 517 foreigners and 933 workers on hydropower projects. Additional rescue workers reported missing comprise 45 Nepali army soldiers and 40 police officers. When Chinese rescuers finally reached the destroyed Gyirong border crossing complex on Friday, August 28, 2026, they found only "ruins." A woman in Bidur sought shelter with a cloth over her face amid the devastation.

More than 1,500 people are missing, with at least 543 confirmed dead after a massive section of a glacier broke and crashed into the Langtang national park in Nepal, unleashing a torrent of water, mud, rock, and ice down rivers and valleys. Surveillance footage showed torrents of water and debris engulfing buildings and people attempting to flee, with rescuers only able to reach the area on Friday.

Nepal has expressed a need for foreign assistance in specialized and technical areas, such as reopening transport and communication services, identifying dead bodies, DNA testing, rescuing people in tunnels, and storing bodies for longer periods. However, Nepal maintains that it can manage general search and rescue efforts on its own.

Nepal has requested assistance from India and China, specifically requesting bailey bridges to restore transport and communication in areas where numerous bridges have been destroyed. So far, India has sent three flights carrying around 60 tons of relief material, including blankets, medicines, food, and water purification tablets, as well as a specialized tunnel rescue team.