Death toll rises to 734, more than 3,000 missing in Nepal, Tibet as authorities warn of more floods | Top updates | Today’s news

Days after catastrophic floods wreaked havoc along the Nepal-China border, Nepalese authorities confirmed on Sunday (local time) that the total death toll in Nepal and Tibet had reached 734, with at least 3,000 people still missing.

The flash floods, which started on Wednesday, originated on the Tibetan side of the border before entering Nepal, where they caused massive destruction and swept away several villages. At around 9:00 am (local time), floodwaters surged through the Bhote Koshi River and hit the border districts of Rasuwa and Dhading along with Nuwakot, southwest of the capital.

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The flooding was triggered by a glacial collapse near the high-altitude China-Nepal border that sent torrents of debris and water across the region.

At least 3,000 people are currently missing, including 2,426 missing in Nepal and 554 in Tibet.

Nepal has requested international financial and specialized technical assistance to assist in rescue operations, body identification and reconstruction efforts, with an estimated need of $4 billion to $5 billion.

Rescue efforts are primarily focused on locating and rescuing people trapped in water tunnels, as well as searching for missing people in hard-hit areas.

Authorities warned of possible renewed flooding due to rising water levels in the Bhotekoshi River and urged residents in flood-affected areas to remain vigilant.

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Here are the main updates as rescue teams continue to search for the missing people:

1. AFP reported that the number of missing people in Nepal and Tibet exceeded 3,000, with at least 750 bodies recovered so far. Citing Nepali officials, the report added that a total of 2,498 people, including hundreds of foreigners, remained in the country without contact. Meanwhile, China’s state-run CCTV said 16 people had been killed and 546 were still missing, including 261 foreign nationals.

2. Nepalese authorities on Sunday warned of possible renewed flooding and urged residents in flood-hit areas to remain on high alert after levels in the Bhotekoshi River rose. According to the AP, local residents received flood warnings on their phones throughout Sunday morning as rescuers tried to clear the main highway connecting Kathmandu to one of the areas worst affected by Wednesday’s catastrophic flooding.

3. More than 100 workers are believed to be trapped in several hydroelectric tunnels. Sudan Gurung, the country’s home minister who came to the fore during the Gen Z protests in 2025, said that late on Saturday, the Nepalese army inserted a pipe into one of the tunnels at the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric site and began pumping air through it. However, rescue efforts at the site were limited due to overnight rains and rising water levels, with Nepal’s disaster authorities urging rescue teams to exercise caution.

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4. The trapped workers were among 933 people reported missing from hydroelectric plants along rivers hit by the massive flow of ice and debris. Drawing on its experience in rescue operations, India has deployed an 11-member specialized team, while China has sent a nine-member team with experience in tunnel rescue.

5. While the cause of the collapse remains unclear, Nepal’s foreign minister warned on Saturday of the growing threat posed by climate change in the Himalayas. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), Wednesday’s disaster near the high-altitude China-Nepal border was caused by a glacial collapse that sent a stream of debris downstream. China’s Xinhua News Agency, citing experts, said that “a glacier on the southern slope of Lirung Peak in Nepal” had broken off and unleashed an avalanche of ice stones.

6. According to the Red Cross, more than 93,000 people are potentially affected by the devastating floods. On Saturday, Nepal appealed for international financial aid along with specialized rescue support, including heavy drones, DNA testing kits and freezers. The call for specialized rescue support came days after Kathmandu rejected offers from several countries to send search and rescue teams to the Himalayan nation as hundreds remain missing.

Read also | Nearly 2,500 missing in Nepal and China intensify rescue operations

7. The United States and Canada pledged $3.6 million each in humanitarian aid, while the United Kingdom offered $6.8 million in aid. In addition, the United Nations has released $2.5 million in emergency funding. On Friday, the European Union pledged $2.3 million in aid, while the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) committed more than $1 million and launched an emergency appeal for $31 million.