Nepal flood toll reaches 1,252 with more than 4,200 still missing as rescue efforts continue, China confirms 21 deaths

On September 3, 2026, the death toll from catastrophic floods on the China-Nepal border exceeded 1,252 in Nepal, with the overall death count surpassing 1,270, according to disaster authorities. Chinese state media reported 21 fatalities in Tibet, bringing the total toll from the disaster to 1,273. In Nepal, 4,216 people remain missing, while China has 541 missing individuals, making the overall number of missing people 4,757.

Nearly 600 foreigners from over 30 nationalities, including 75 Americans and 75 Indians, are also unaccounted for, with the State Department confirming the latter. As rescue operations continue, the Nepali army, along with foreign experts, is searching for survivors trapped in several hydropower tunnels using excavators and heavy equipment.

The floods, which struck on August 26, have caused extensive damage, destroying roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, making relief efforts challenging. Aid agencies are considering deploying porters to deliver aid to hard-hit districts near the China border, as well as helicopters and cargo drones. Families of missing foreigners in Kathmandu expressed desperation, with an American man, Sanjeev Rai, flying to Nepal to search for his wife, who remains untraceable.