gg2
Nepal floods: missing rise to nearly 3,000
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Nepal floods killed 633, with nearly 3,000 missing.
Rescue efforts continue as families search for loved ones.
Background
A glacial collapse in the Himalayas on Wednesday sent a wall of water, ice, and mud down the Nepal-Tibet border, destroying villages and infrastructure. The disaster has affected up to 93,000 people, with the death toll expected to rise as search operations continue.
How it unfolded
- Aug 26, 2026A glacial collapse triggers flash floods and mudslides along the Nepal-Tibet border, destroying villages and infrastructure.
- Aug 28, 2026Rescue operations continue; Nepal's disaster agency reports 626 dead and 2,426 missing in Nepal, with over 3,700 rescued.
- Aug 29, 2026Combined death toll rises to 633, with nearly 3,000 missing. Fears of a second flood from a swollen artificial lake hamper search efforts.
Who’s saying what
- Officials
- Nepal's disaster agency and army are coordinating rescue efforts, with helicopters resuming operations after weather improved.
- Red Cross
- The Red Cross warns the death toll could climb into the thousands and highlights the challenge of managing dead bodies to avoid health risks.
- Families
- Families of the missing express hope and despair, with some traveling from abroad to search for loved ones.
Still unverified
Reports of some bodies being swept downstream as far as India are unconfirmed.