The confirmed death toll from catastrophic flooding in Nepal has risen to 903, with more than 4,200 people still reported missing. Rescue teams and aid workers continue to struggle with blocked highways while trying to reach the worst-affected areas.
The disaster began with a glacier collapse and landslide along Nepal’s border with China on Wednesday. It is now considered the country’s deadliest natural disaster since the April 2015 earthquake that claimed around 9,000 lives.
Access remains the primary barrier to the response. Roads are passable only as far as Nuwakot, and sections of the highway connecting Kathmandu to the hardest-hit zones stay completely blocked. Power has been restored in some locations.
Nepal’s government has deployed more than 20,000 search-and-rescue personnel and declared a flood emergency in 15 municipalities. More than 10,000 people have been rescued so far, including 252 foreign nationals.
Humanitarian assessments show significant ongoing needs. About 65,000 people require emergency water, sanitation and hygiene support. More than 22,000 children are in need of protection services. Roughly 2,600 children under five are expected to require treatment for severe acute malnutrition, while around 10,500 pregnant and breastfeeding women need nutrition assistance.
Nineteen schools have been damaged, nine completely destroyed and eight others are sheltering displaced families. More than 10,000 school-age children require psychosocial support. Preliminary reports also indicate that 107 children may have been separated from their parents or caregivers, making family tracing a priority.
On the Chinese side of the border, authorities have reported at least 16 deaths and at least 546 people still missing.
Overcrowding and disruptions to water, sanitation and health services have raised concerns about the potential for infectious disease outbreaks.
Aid agencies have begun scaling up support. Nearly 80 metric tonnes of food have been distributed, reaching about 9,200 people with supplies expected to last 15 days. Therapeutic food has been delivered for roughly 500 severely malnourished children, and 15 emergency medical teams have been mobilised. A coordination hub has been established in Nuwakot to improve planning and information sharing among responders.
Officials have noted the unprecedented nature of the glacier collapse and cautioned that the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. The event has also been linked to broader risks facing fragile mountain environments amid a changing climate.