Death toll rises to at least 1,385 as rescue focus narrows to three hydropower tunnels
Nepal updates death toll to 1,385 and missing to 5,130, while rescuers concentrate tunnel operations at Chilime, Trishuli 3A and 3B, with oxygen now being piped into the shafts.
Quick summary
Nepal's disaster agency reports 1,385 bodies recovered and 5,130 missing as of September 11, while China's figures of 43 deaths and 519 missing remain unchanged since September 8, bringing the combined death toll to at least 1,428 across both countries. Rescue operations are now focused on three hydropower tunnel sites—Chilime and the interconnected Upper Trishuli 3A and 3B—where authorities believe workers could be trapped. Oxygen is being supplied into the tunnels via pipes and the Nepali Army has opened an access road to Chilime to allow heavy equipment to reach the site. India has sent eight relief flights totaling over 130 tonnes of supplies and 54 expert personnel, including a specialized tunnel rescue team, while China has donated heavy-lift cargo drones that are delivering food and medicines to isolated areas and evacuating bodies from steep cliffs.
Key points
- Nepal's death toll updated to 1,385, with 5,130 missing; combined toll across Nepal and China reaches at least 1,428
- Rescue operations concentrated on three tunnel sites: Chilime, Trishuli 3A and Trishuli 3B
- Oxygen being piped into tunnels; Army opens access road to Chilime for heavy equipment
- India sends eighth relief flight, bringing total aid to over 130 tonnes and 54 expert personnel including tunnel rescue specialists
- China-donated heavy-lift DJI FlyCart 100 cargo drones deliver supplies to cut-off areas and evacuate bodies; Singapore donates six monitoring drones
- Reconstruction costs estimated at US$4.78 billion
- More than 13,300 people rescued by security forces; around 600 of the missing are foreign nationals from 35 countries
How it unfolded
- New
Flood begins
A glacier collapse and ice-rock avalanche trigger a major surge through the Bhotekoshi river system.
- New
Infrastructure hit
Roads, hydropower plants and transmission facilities suffer major damage.
- ChangedContested
Reported casualty numbers rise sharply
Figures moved from 8 to more than 350 within 24 hours as information reached authorities from areas cut off by communication outages.
- Changed
Cause clarified
Reporting identifies a glacial flood mechanism, and early seismic signals are attributed to the landslide rather than a tectonic earthquake.
- New
More than 1,300 people reported missing
The scale of the missing-person count prompts international rescue efforts.
- New
Warning of a second flood
Authorities warn that a landslide-created lake combined with further rainfall could produce a secondary disaster.
- New
Rescue race
Reports that 933 hydropower workers are missing shift international attention toward the flooded tunnels.
- New
Search continues
Rescuers drill into hydropower tunnels as hopes of finding survivors become a central focus of coverage.
- ChangedContested
Reported missing count rises to 4,793
Up from roughly 1,300 five days earlier.
- New
Close to 300 workers rescued from tunnels
Rescue teams from China, India and Nepal use excavators and temporary bridges to reach trapped workers.
- New
Electricity restored
Power has been restored nearly a week after the floods.
- New
Death toll crosses 1,000
The Associated Press reports more than 1,000 deaths across Nepal and China.
- New
Official says trapped workers may be alive
A Nepal Electricity Authority official states there is a high chance workers trapped in Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant chambers have survived.
- New
U.S. rescue teams join effort
Specialized rescue teams from the United States are now involved alongside Chinese, Indian and Nepali crews.
- New
Economic toll quantified
Mongabay reports 281 MW of installed capacity wiped out or badly damaged, 388 MW under construction damaged, with losses estimated in the hundreds of billions of Nepali rupees.
- New
Death toll surpasses 1,200
Multiple outlets report the death toll has exceeded 1,200, making this Nepal's deadliest natural disaster since the 2015 earthquake.
- Changed
Authorities 'very confident' 46 workers may be alive
Nepal Electricity Authority officials say they are 'very confident' about 46 workers trapped in an underground room at Rasuwagadhi have access to food and water, refining earlier statements about trapped workers' chances of survival.
- New
Rescuers advance 250 meters into Rasuwagadhi tunnel
Teams have progressed 250 meters into a tunnel at Rasuwagadhi before encountering a blockage, continuing efforts to reach the underground chamber.
- New
At least eight workers may be trapped at Chilime project
Nepal's Independent Power Producers' Association reports at least eight people may be trapped at the Chilime hydropower project.
- New
Two workers rescued alive from tunnel
Described as a "miracle" rescue nine days after the flood began.
- New
Death toll rises to 1,294 in Nepal
Nepal's disaster agency reports 1,294 bodies recovered and 5,053 people missing as of Sept. 5.
- New
Overall death toll crosses 1,290
Multiple outlets report more than 1,290 or 1,300 dead across Nepal and China combined.
- Changed
Rasuwagadhi reports 93 workers missing
Company secretary says 93 people are unaccounted for; searches of the powerhouse found no one inside, and the company now estimates between four and 14 may have been trapped inside the powerhouse.
- New
Nepal Electricity Authority confirms 431 MW knocked out
Six major hydropower and transmission facilities were damaged, including Rasuwagadhi, Chilime and Trishuli 3A.
- New
Search for Rasuwagadhi workers expands beyond powerhouse
Searches extended to nearby forests and difficult mountain terrain after no one was found inside the powerhouse.
- Changed
Death toll rises to 1,357 in Nepal
Nepal's disaster authority updates the count from 1,294 on Sept. 5 to 1,357 bodies recovered as of Sept. 8, with 5,326 missing.
- New
China reports 43 deaths and 519 missing
China's official tally brings the combined death toll across both countries to at least 1,400 with more than 5,800 missing.
- New
Army estimates 121 workers trapped in hydropower tunnels
The Nepali Army provides a specific estimate of people trapped inside tunnels at various hydropower projects in Rasuwa.
- New
Four rescued alive in last five days
Including a Chinese national rescued from an audit tunnel at Upper Trishuli 1 on Saturday and a 64-year-old woman from Betrawati.
- New
Public anger mounts over search delays
Families and local communities express concern about the pace and prioritization of tunnel rescue operations.
- Changed
Death toll rises to 1,367 in Nepal
Nepal's disaster authority updates the count from 1,357 on Sept. 8 to 1,367 bodies recovered as of Sept. 9.
- New
Army identifies three tunnel focus sites
Nepal Army confirms search operations are concentrated on the Trishuli 3A, 3B and Chilime hydropower project tunnels.
- Changed
Combined death toll reaches 1,410
Multiple outlets report at least 1,410 deaths across Nepal and China, up from 1,400.
- New
Nepal deploys drones for flood relief
Authorities begin using drones to deliver medicines and supplies to communities cut off by landslide damage.
- New
5.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Nepal
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake jolted Nepal amid ongoing flood rescue operations.
- Changed
Missing count revised to 5,651
Up from 5,326 in Nepal and 519 in China reported on Sept. 8.
- New
Fresh air detected in tunnel searches
Rescuers find fresh air during operations at submerged hydropower plant tunnels, raising hopes for trapped workers.
- New
Nepal uses cargo drones for food delivery
For the first time in an emergency operation in Nepal, cargo drones deliver food to communities cut off by landslides.
- New
India sends new relief consignment
India delivers tents, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, medicines and rescue equipment to flood-hit Nepal.
- New
Damage assessment quantifies energy losses
Rapid assessment shows 13 hydropower projects and five solar plants totaling 783 MW severely damaged across Rasuwa and Nuwakot, with Rs 390.623 billion required for full grid restoration.
- New
917 workers and employees remain missing
Rescue teams are still searching for 917 missing workers and employees nearly two weeks after the disaster.
- Changed
Death toll rises to 1,385 in Nepal
Nepal's disaster authority updates the count from 1,367 on Sept. 9 to 1,385 bodies recovered as of Sept. 11.
- Changed
Combined death toll reaches at least 1,428
With China's toll unchanged at 43, multiple outlets report at least 1,428 deaths across Nepal and China, up from 1,410.
- Changed
Missing count revised to 5,130 in Nepal
Down from 5,132 reported on Sept. 9, with China's figure of 519 missing unchanged since Sept. 8.
- New
Oxygen piped into hydropower tunnels
Rescuers supply oxygen via pipes into the Chilime, Trishuli 3A and 3B tunnels where workers are believed to be trapped.
- New
Army opens access road to Chilime tunnel
The Nepali Army completes an access road to allow heavy equipment to reach the Chilime Hydropower Project tunnel site.
- New
India sends eighth relief flight
Total Indian aid reaches over 130 tonnes, including tents, blankets, medicines, gas detectors, breathing apparatus, mud rescue suits and dewatering pumps, along with 54 expert personnel including a specialized tunnel rescue team.
- New
China-donated cargo drones evacuate bodies and scan tunnels
Heavy-lift DJI FlyCart 100 drones evacuate seven bodies from steep cliffs and use thermal sensors to scan the Upper Trishuli-1 tunnel for buried workers.
- New
Singapore donates six drones to Nepal Police
Six monitoring drones handed over to provide wide-area surveillance and identify safe flight paths to complement heavy-lift cargo drones.
- New
Reconstruction cost estimated at US$4.78 billion
Multiple outlets report the reconstruction bill at about US$4.78 billion.
- New
More than 13,300 people rescued
Joint efforts by Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have rescued over 13,300 people from affected areas.
- New
Relief supplies stuck at Nepal-India border
Consignments of relief supplies for Rasuwa flood victims are held at the Bairgania border crossing awaiting customs clearance.
Claim tracker
15 confirmed · 1 unverified
- Confirmed
Nepal's disaster agency reported 1,385 bodies recovered as of September 11
ANI News, B360, New Straits Times and SBS News all cite or report Nepal disaster agency figures of 1,377–1,385 bodies; New Straits Times explicitly states 1,385 as of Friday (Sept. 11).
4 agreeing - Confirmed
At least 1,428 people have died across Nepal and China
New Straits Times reports more than 1,400 killed; combined Nepal (1,385) and China (43) totals support at least 1,428.
2 agreeing - Confirmed
Rescue operations are focused on three hydropower tunnel sites: Chilime, Trishuli 3A and Trishuli 3B
The Business Standard, SBS News and Nepali News all report concentrated rescue at Chilime and the interconnected Upper Trishuli 3A and 3B tunnels.
3 agreeing - Confirmed
Oxygen is being supplied into the tunnels via pipes
The Business Standard reports oxygen is being supplied into the tunnels via pipes and new equipment sent to open passages.
1 agreeing - Confirmed
The Nepali Army has opened an access road to the Chilime tunnel
Nepali News reports the Army has opened an access road to allow heavy equipment to reach the Chilime tunnel site.
1 agreeing - Confirmed
India has sent eight relief flights totaling over 130 tonnes of supplies
ANI News, Bhaskar English and IDN Times all report India has sent eight flights with over 130 tonnes of relief since August 26.
3 agreeing - Confirmed
India has deployed 54 expert personnel including a specialized tunnel rescue team
ANI News and Bhaskar English both report India deployed 54 experts including tunnel rescue teams working at Chilime and Langtang.
2 agreeing - Confirmed
China donated heavy-lift DJI FlyCart 100 cargo drones to Nepal
IDN Times reports the Nepal military deployed heavy-lift DJI FlyCart 100 cargo drones donated by China.
1 agreeing - Confirmed
Cargo drones have evacuated seven bodies from steep cliffs
IDN Times states the drones have been used to evacuate seven bodies from steep cliffs.
1 agreeing - Confirmed
Cargo drones used thermal sensors to scan the Upper Trishuli-1 tunnel
IDN Times reports drones scanned the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower tunnel with thermal sensors to search for buried workers.
1 agreeing - Confirmed
Singapore donated six drones to Nepal Police
AsiaOne reports Singapore handed over six drones to Nepal Police for disaster recovery efforts.
1 agreeing - Confirmed
Reconstruction costs are estimated at US$4.78 billion
New Straits Times and Bhaskar English both report reconstruction bill estimated at about US$4.78 billion.
2 agreeing - Confirmed
More than 13,300 people have been rescued by security forces
B360 reports joint efforts by Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force rescued more than 13,300 people.
1 agreeing - Confirmed
Around 600 of the missing are foreign nationals from 35 countries
B360 reports an estimated 1,000 people still missing, including around 600 foreign nationals from 35 countries.
1 agreeing - Confirmed
Relief supplies for Rasuwa flood victims are stuck at the Nepal-India border awaiting customs clearance
The Himalayan Times reports relief consignments stuck at Bairgania border crossing as of September 11, awaiting customs clearance.
1 agreeing - Unverified
China confirmed 43 deaths and 519 missing
No outlet in this batch updates China's toll; the previous brief reported these figures as of Sept. 8 and they remain unchanged.
What we still don't know
- How many workers are currently believed to be trapped in the three tunnel sites now under focused rescue operations?
- What is the current status of the estimated 917 workers and employees reported missing on Sept. 10?
- Have there been any additional rescues of trapped workers since the previous brief?
- What is the timeline for clearing customs on relief supplies stuck at the Nepal-India border?
- What is the scope of damage to the 13 hydropower projects and five solar plants totaling 783 MW reported on Sept. 10?
- How does the US$4.78 billion reconstruction estimate compare to Nepal's GDP?
Nepal floods, August 2026
- Death toll reaches 469 as second flood warning continues
- Nepal flood death toll passes 900 as search focuses on hydropower tunnels
- Death toll surpasses 1,000 as rescue efforts continue for trapped hydropower workers
- Nearly 300 workers rescued from flooded hydropower tunnels, 639 still trapped
- Death toll exceeds 1,000 as officials say trapped workers may still be alive
- Death toll rises past 1,200 as rescuers focus on underground chamber where 46 workers may survive
- Two workers rescued alive from tunnel nine days after flood; 93 Rasuwagadhi workers now missing
- Death toll reaches 1,357 in Nepal as army estimates 121 workers remain trapped in hydropower tunnels
- Death toll reaches 1,367 in Nepal as rescue teams focus on Trishuli 3A, 3B and Chilime tunnels
- Missing count revised upward to 5,651 as fresh air detected in hydropower tunnels
- Nepal death toll rises to 1,385 as U.S. commits additional $1 million for victim identification
- Death toll reaches 1,428 as Nepal estimates $7 billion reconstruction cost
- Nepal revises reconstruction cost to $4.78 billion; India to supply 654 MW to replace flood-damaged hydropower
- Death toll rises to 1,399; India begins 654 MW daily power supply as rescue teams near final stage at Chilime tunnel
- Search operations halted at 10 of 13 damaged hydropower projects as 868 workers remain missing
- Death toll rises to 1,410 in Nepal as missing count jumps to 6,150
- Rescuers recover 11 bodies from Upper Trishuli-1 tunnel; total dead reaches 1,414
- Death toll rises to 1,436 as hydropower tunnels yield 24 bodies in single week
Sources analysed
8 outlets in the analysed roster.
- The Business Standard — Nepal rescue focused on workers trapped in three tunnels
- SBS News — Nepal continues looking for survivors in hydropower tunnels two weeks after deadly floods
- IDN Times — Drone Kargo Nepal Salurkan Bantuan ke Daerah Terisolasi
- ANI News — Nepal flood death toll rises to 1,369 as India sends eighth aid flight with over 130 tonnes of relief in total
- Bhaskar English — Reconstruction Costs Exceed Country GDP
- B360 — PM Shah lauds security personnel involved in flood response
- Nepali News — Nepali Army opens access road to Chilime Hydro tunnel for rescue operations
- AsiaOne — Singapore hands over 6 drones to Nepal police as part of disaster recovery efforts