The death toll from the catastrophic floods and landslides that struck Nepal and neighbouring parts of China has risen to 623, as rescue teams continued searching river systems and downstream areas for hundreds of people still missing.
Nepal police said 616 bodies have been recovered, including 233 in Chitwan and 158 in Nawalparasi East, making the two districts among the areas with the highest number of recovered victims.
Dozens of bodies have also been found in Gorkha, Dhading and Nuwakot following the overflow of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, which carried floodwaters and debris downstream from the Himalayan region.
Authorities said some victims had been carried enormous distances by the currents, with bodies recovered as far downstream as areas near Nepal’s border with India.
At least 638 people remain missing in Nepal, including 511 foreign nationals, as authorities continue efforts to account for residents and visitors caught in the disaster.
Across the border in China, seven people have been confirmed dead and 554 remain missing, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.
Nepalese authorities said 2,301 people have either been rescued or received treatment for injuries, with large numbers of survivors located in Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts.
The scale of the disaster has prompted a major emergency deployment. Police said 4,811 personnel were operating across affected regions to support search, rescue and recovery operations.
Twenty-seven police officers also remain out of contact, highlighting the risks faced by emergency personnel working in areas devastated by flooding, landslides and damaged infrastructure.