Nepal says death toll rises to 1,252 as rescue operations continue

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Catastrophic floods near the China-Nepal border have claimed the lives of at least 1,252 individuals, according to the disaster authority, bringing the total death count to over 1,270. Chinese state media reported 21 fatalities in Tibet, raising the overall toll to 1,273 from the disaster that struck on August 26.

In Nepal, 4,216 people remain missing, while rescue operations maintain a high level of urgency. Chinese authorities have recorded 541 people missing, bringing the total to 4,757. Nearly 600 foreigners from over 30 nations are also unaccounted for, with Indians comprising a significant portion. According to the State Department, 75 Americans are listed as missing.

In Kathmandu, distraught families of the missing foreigners are searching hospitals and morgues for any information about their loved ones. One 53-year-old American, Sanjeev Rai, expressed his desperation after learning that his wife was untraceable. The floods, which swept through mountainous regions, have inflicted significant damage.