Nepalese authorities have confirmed 579 deaths following a devastating flash flood that struck on 26/8. The disaster has also left nearly 2,400 people missing across Nepal and neighboring China.

Nepal's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported the updated casualty statistics this morning. The list of missing individuals in Nepal expanded to 1,924 after 933 workers from local hydropower plant projects were added.

China's state television CCTV stated that as of 3 h on 28/8, Chinese officials had confirmed five deaths and 558 missing persons within China.

The combined number of missing persons from both countries now exceeds 2,400. Rescue teams have recovered 586 bodies, with some victims swept downstream, even reaching India, according to CNN sources.

Debris after a flash flood and landslide in Devghat, Nuwakot district, Nepal, 26/8. *Photo: AFP*

Discrepancies in casualty figures are common during emergency operations, as responders contend with chaotic conditions, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted communication. Official numbers are expected to fluctuate. A US State Department official reported that 90 US citizens remain unaccounted for, though five have been safely evacuated.

The flash flood was triggered by an ice and rock mass from a glacier, unleashing a massive flow of water and mud through villages. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has identified this as Nepal's deadliest disaster since the 2015 earthquake.

Rescuers are navigating thick mud layers in search of survivors, facing continued threats of new floods. The deluge has also created several large lakes, one posing a direct danger to the search teams. Chinese President Xi Jinping offered Nepal assistance for its emergency response operations during a meeting on the relief efforts.

Victim relatives have gathered at hospitals in Nepal's capital, desperately searching for loved ones. Walls are adorned with posters displaying photos and names of the missing, aiding the identification process.

Thanh Danh (According to AFP, CNN)