Nepal and Tibet flood deaths pass 750 as thousands remain missing

The death toll from catastrophic flash floods in Nepal and Tibet has risen above 750, with thousands of people still unaccounted for and rescue operations increasingly hampered by rising river levels and continued rainfall. Nepal's disaster agency confirmed 734 deaths in the country, while Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths on the Tibetan side of the border. More than 2,500 people are listed as missing in Nepal alone, and hundreds more are unaccounted for in Tibet.

Rescue teams have been working in extremely difficult conditions, with deep mud, destroyed roads, and broken bridges slowing their progress. In the Nuwakot district, drone footage showed entire villages near rivers swept away by torrents of rock, ice, and mud. Nearly 500 people have been rescued so far, many airlifted to military camps. One young girl was pulled alive from a collapsed building after rescuers heard her crying beneath the rubble, days after the initial disaster.

A major focus of the rescue effort is a hydroelectric power plant in Nepal, where dozens of workers are believed to be trapped in tunnels. Rescuers have drilled into one tunnel and inserted a pipe to supply air, but the search for entry points continues. The plant, along with other hydropower projects in the region, was severely damaged by the floodwaters.

The scale of the human tragedy is becoming clearer as bodies wash up far downstream. In Bharatpur, more than 100 miles from the worst-hit area, makeshift morgues are overwhelmed. Forensic teams are taking DNA samples from the dead before temporary burials, as bodies decompose rapidly. Families are gathering at screening centres, watching images of victims in the hope of identifying loved ones. So far, only a handful have been formally identified.

The disaster has also affected foreign nationals. The number of British people missing has risen to 48, after China released figures showing 15 missing in Tibet and 33 unaccounted for in Nepal. The British government is liaising with local authorities.

Rescue operations have been repeatedly suspended due to the threat of further flooding. The Narayani River and other waterways have risen sharply, forcing residents and rescue workers to move to higher ground. Authorities in China have identified a new lake formed by a landslide in the last 24 hours, adding to the risk. Nearly 100,000 people are thought to have been affected by the disaster, the worst to hit Nepal in a decade.

Humanitarian organisations are warning of urgent needs beyond immediate rescue. Many families have lost their homes and are sheltering in temporary camps. There are concerns about safe drinking water, disease outbreaks, and the particular vulnerability of women, children, and disabled people. Pregnant and lactating mothers need special support. Aid agencies are delivering emergency packages, but access remains a major challenge, with more than 42 kilometres of roads destroyed or impassable.

As the search continues, the chances of finding more survivors are fading. The focus is shifting to recovery and the long task of identifying the dead and supporting the living.