Search continues as number missing in Nepal-Tibet floods rises to 2,478 – as it happened

The death toll from a devastating flash flood along the Nepal-Tibet border has climbed to 626, according to Nepalese police, while Chinese authorities report seven fatalities in Tibet. The number of people missing has now reached 2,478, with 1,924 unaccounted for in Nepal and 554 in Tibet, as rescue operations press on.

More than 3,700 individuals have been rescued in Nepal so far, but the disaster has left at least 93,000 people affected, according to the Red Cross. Among the missing are 777 foreigners, including 517 reported by Nepal and 260 by China. The situation remains dire, particularly in Gyirong County, Tibet, where a Chinese rescue team described the once-busy border crossing as reduced to "nothing but ruins." Over 550 people, including 260 foreigners, remain unaccounted for in the area.

Nepal has reversed an earlier stance by requesting specialized international assistance for tasks such as tunnel rescues and the identification and storage of bodies. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal confirmed that the country is seeking technical expertise it lacks, though it does not require additional search and rescue support. Nepal has also formally asked China and India for bailey bridges to facilitate recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, the number of Australians reported missing has risen to 41, though one family received welcome news after a previously uncontacted woman reached out. Rescue teams continue to navigate the challenging terrain as the full scope of the disaster becomes clearer.