Nepal resumed search-and-rescue flights on Saturday after rain and fog briefly halted operations, as the combined death toll from catastrophic flooding along the Nepal–Tibet border reached 676 and nearly 3,000 people remained missing. Reuters and The Associated Press reported that Nepal's disaster agency counted 669 deaths and 2,426 missing, while Chinese authorities reported seven deaths and more than 550 missing in Tibet's Gyirong County.
The torrent swept through mountain valleys on Wednesday, carrying rock, ice, mud and debris into communities, roads, bridges and power facilities. Reuters attributed the flood to a glacier collapse, but Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saturday that the cause had not yet been fully determined. Authorities continued monitoring two lakes upstream because additional flooding remained possible until the water drained safely.
Helicopters returned to the hardest-hit districts after conditions improved, carrying food, clothing and other supplies in and evacuating survivors. AP reported that more than 3,700 people had been rescued in Nepal, while a later government briefing said more than 4,450 had been brought to safety, including over 187 foreign nationals. Officials stressed that casualty and rescue figures would change as field teams verified information.
The government said search teams, security forces, medical responders and local authorities were working across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan. It requested specialized foreign assistance to open tunnels where people may be trapped, deploy technology capable of locating survivors, accelerate DNA analysis and increase mortuary capacity. A dedicated emergency control room is also coordinating information about foreign nationals and communication with families.
The disaster has an international dimension because hundreds of foreign travelers and pilgrims are among those unaccounted for. Reuters said at least 540 foreign nationals were missing across Nepal and Tibet, including many Indian Hindu pilgrims, while families in Malaysia and other countries sought verified updates. In Kathmandu, relatives gathered at the main government hospital and examined official lists and photographs for information.
Nepal's finance minister told Reuters that rebuilding could require about $4 billion to $5 billion after buildings, transport links and power stations were swept away. Relief operations are meanwhile prioritizing medical care, food, safe water and temporary shelter. The government warned the public and news organizations to rely on verified releases as rescue teams search unstable terrain and authorities assess the full scale of the damage.
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