The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 1,222, while 4,875 people remain missing, as search and rescue teams continue operations more than a week after the disaster.

The latest figures were reported by Nepal Police on Thursday as authorities continued recovering bodies and searching through flood debris and hard-to-reach areas affected by the disaster.

The disaster struck on August 26, 2026, when a massive surge of water, mud and debris swept through communities along the Bhote Koshi River near Rasuwagadhi on the Nepal-China border. The flooding subsequently affected parts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan districts. Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the event as unprecedented in recent memory.

According to the latest Nepal Police figures, the 1,222 recovered bodies include identified victims as well as partial and unidentified remains. Authorities have also continued efforts to establish the identities of those killed and reconcile reports of missing people.

The Nepalese government said the figures remain subject to verification as search, recovery and identification operations continue. Earlier on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority had recorded 1,204 bodies recovered and about 4,200 people missing, illustrating how rapidly the figures have been changing as more remains are recovered and reports are verified.

More than 11,900 people have been rescued, while thousands of security personnel have been deployed to assist with search, rescue, evacuation and relief operations. The government said more than 21,000 security personnel were involved in the response.

The disaster has also prompted international assistance. Specialised tunnel-rescue teams from India, China and South Korea have been working with the Nepali Army to search damaged hydropower facilities, where a large number of people are believed to remain trapped or unaccounted for. Teams from several countries are also assisting with forensic identification of recovered remains.

The flooding caused widespread destruction to homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure. Rescue workers have faced difficult conditions, with tunnels and other affected areas filled with mud, rocks and debris.

Authorities have begun using DNA samples and other forensic procedures to identify victims whose remains cannot immediately be identified. Temporary burials have also been carried out where remains could not safely be preserved, with authorities saying DNA records would allow identification at a later stage.

The disaster is believed to have been triggered by a major collapse involving glacial ice and rock in the Himalayan region, sending an enormous volume of water and debris downstream. The Nepalese government has also highlighted the vulnerability of the Himalayas to the effects of a warming climate.

With thousands still unaccounted for, rescue and recovery operations remain ongoing as authorities continue efforts to locate missing people, recover bodies and provide assistance to affected communities.