Nepal flood toll nears 1,000-mark, UN says 65,000 need emergency aid

The death toll from last week’s devastating flash floods in Nepal neared the 1,000-mark, rising to 962, with nearly 4,000 people still unaccounted for, authorities said on Tuesday. Rescue teams raced to find more than 900 workers feared trapped inside hydropower tunnels, as bad weather and thick mud hampered efforts. The United Nations has warned that around 65,000 people urgently need water, sanitation and hygiene support in flood-hit areas.

The floods, triggered by a collapse or avalanche of ice and rock near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, devastated towns and villages in northern and central Nepal. The torrent surged through the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system, sweeping away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and damaging several hydropower projects.

With rescue operations entering another crucial phase, authorities are also struggling to identify bodies recovered far downstream. Families are searching hospitals and photographs for missing relatives, while poor road access, damaged infrastructure and the threat of further rain are complicating relief and rescue efforts.

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