Death toll climbing: 781 dead and 2,502 still missing in mudslide disaster in Nepal, say authorities

Army personnel prepare to conduct a search and rescue operation for flood victims along the Narayani river at Bharatpur in Nepal's Chitwan district on August 30, 2026. Devastating floods near the border with China killed at least 781 people in Nepal, its disaster authority said on Sunday, August 30, with 2,502 people missing as rescue efforts continued for a fifth day. -- Photo by Prakash MATHEMA / AFP

KATHMANDU (Xinhua): Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said that as of 6pm local time on Sunday, 781 bodies had been recovered from mudslide-hit areas, with 2,502 people still missing.

Meanwhile, the Nepal Tourism Board said that a total of 591 foreign nationals remained out of communication as of the same time.

It said in a statement that 289 foreigners have been rescued and five are now in contact, including three Spanish nationals, one American and one Belgian.  -- Xinhua