Nepal Releases List of 2,465 People Missing After August 26 Floods, Including 171 Foreign Nationals

Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has released details of 2,294 Nepali nationals from 32 districts and 171 foreign nationals from seven countries who went missing following the devastating floods that struck the Himalayan nation on August 26. The announcement comes a month after the government ended its 40-day search-and-rescue operation on October 5. According to the authority, the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods claimed at least 1,455 lives and left 5,285 people missing. Rasuwa district recorded the highest number of missing Nepali nationals, with 1,538 people. Among the missing foreign nationals, 54 each are from Malaysia and Ukraine, 33 from Australia, 11 from Russia, nine from South Korea, eight from Germany and two from Italy. The list does not include Indian nationals, as the authority is yet to receive verified information from the Indian Embassy.

The NDRRMA clarified that the newly released list contains only those whose missing status has been officially verified by the respective District Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees. It has also requested individuals listed as missing, or their immediate family members, to submit a claim within seven days if they are found alive or their whereabouts are confirmed. The authority said it would publish an updated list after receiving further information from district administration offices and relevant diplomatic missions. The devastating floods originated near the Nepal-Tibet border, causing widespread destruction across northern and central Nepal. Several houses, vehicles, roads and bridges were swept away, while hydropower projects also suffered significant damage. Following the conclusion of rescue operations, the government has shifted its focus towards rehabilitation and reconstruction in the affected regions.