Himalaya death toll passes 1,270, with thousands still missing

Severe flooding in Nepal and Tibet has resulted in a death toll of 1,270, with thousands still missing.

The flooding, linked to the collapse of glacial ice and rock in the Himalayas, caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, and structures in riverside communities.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with many bodies recovered in Nepal remaining unidentified, while foreign nationals are among the missing individuals prompting international concern.

The death toll in Nepal and Tibet has risen to 1,270, the authorities said, as thousands remain missing eight days after the devastating flooding in the Himalayas.

In Nepal alone, 1,252 people have died, the police said, while in Tibet, the death toll rose from 16 to 21, the authorities said late on Wednesday evening.

In Nepal, 4,875 are missing, including 601 foreign nationals, according to official figures on Thursday.

In Tibet, 551 people are missing, the authorities said. There was no information about foreign nationals who may be unaccounted for.

Authorities abroad are seeking clarity about lost citizens. The German Foreign Office estimates that a high single-figure number of Germans are missing in both countries, it said in response to an enquiry.

Dozens of British nationals remain missing in Nepal, according to BBC reports.

Most of the bodies recovered so far in Nepal have not been identified. Authorities said rescuers were often finding only bone fragments or other human remains.

The flash floods swept away entire villages, causing billions of dollars worth of damage.

The flood is thought to have been triggered by the collapse of large quantities of glacial ice and rock in the Himalayas.

An access road to the badly affected border post at Gyirong in the Tibet Autonomous Region is now passable, enabling aid supplies to reach the disaster area more easily.