A week after a glacier collapse triggered devastating floods along the Nepal-China border, at least 1,114 people have died and 3,916 remain missing in Nepal. Chinese authorities have reported another 16 deaths and 546 missing people in Tibet, bringing the combined toll to 1,130 dead and more than 4,400 missing across the affected areas. Rescue teams are continuing their search despite diminishing hopes of finding survivors.

The flooding swept through towns near the border on August 26, carrying away buildings and leaving large amounts of mud and debris behind. Authorities fear some victims may still be buried beneath the rubble. Search crews have been concentrating on damaged hydropower facilities, where tunnels and enclosed areas could have provided temporary shelter for people caught in the disaster.

Nepal’s military said 279 people have so far been rescued from the ruins of hydropower facilities, but at least 639 others remain unaccounted for. Some are believed to be trapped deep inside tunnels. Officials acknowledge that the likelihood of finding additional survivors is falling as time passes, but rescue operations remain underway.

With the immediate emergency continuing to ease, the Nepalese government is shifting attention toward recovery and reconstruction. The United Nations Development Programme estimates that the disaster has generated at least 2.2 million tonnes of debris, including collapsed structures, boulders and sediment. Authorities will need to clear homes, roads and public areas while also providing medical and psychological support to affected communities, making debris removal and reconstruction major challenges ahead.