Nepal flood death toll rises to 669, nearly 3,000 missing

The devastating floods that swept through Nepal's Bhote Koshi river basin have claimed at least 669 lives, according to the latest official figures released by Nepali police. This grim toll, when added to the seven deaths reported in China's Tibet region, brings the total number of fatalities to 676. The disaster has left a staggering nearly 3,000 people unaccounted for across the border.

The southern districts of Chitwan and Nawalparasi East have been hit hardest, with 248 and 158 bodies recovered respectively. These areas bore the brunt of the deluge, which carried away victims along with massive amounts of water and debris. In Tibet, the Chinese county of Gyirong, a key border crossing with Nepal, witnessed some of the most violent scenes of the flood.

Emergency services are grappling with the overwhelming scale of the tragedy. Morgues are saturated, and the rapid decomposition of bodies recovered from the rivers presents a significant challenge. In Nawalparasi East, local authorities have begun mass DNA sampling from unidentified or unrecognizable corpses before proceeding with burials in community forest areas.

Thousands of emergency personnel are continuing their search efforts, navigating hardened mud surfaces that may have entomled dozens of people. The Nepal Tourism Board has reported that 184 foreign tourists have been rescued alive, but 420 remain missing. Among those rescued were two Spanish citizens on Saturday.

The Nepali government has appealed for international assistance, specifically requesting expertise in forensic services and body preservation. They are also seeking technical teams to help rescue hundreds of workers believed to be trapped in flooded tunnels of hydroelectric power plants within the affected basin.