The death toll from the devastating floods in Nepal has risen to 1,344, with the number of missing persons standing at 4,886 as search and rescue operations continue in the affected areas, according to the latest official balance published this Saturday.

The recent report from the Nepal Police raised the number of fatalities, while the number of people whose whereabouts remain unknown slightly decreased to 4,886. Among the missing are at least 606 foreign nationals, including two Spaniards, as confirmed by official sources.

Ongoing Rescue Operations and Hope for Survivors

The operations, which involve a deployment of nearly 8,000 officers, have managed to rescue 8,962 people so far. Efforts continue with the hope of finding more survivors at ground zero, following the rescue this Friday of two workers who spent ten days trapped inside a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric power plant.

One of the rescued workers, Kabir Maharjan, is in critical condition and receiving intensive care at a military hospital in Kathmandu for severe hypothermia and extreme exhaustion in his limbs. The other worker, Sanjay Sah, remains stable and recounted that, during his confinement, he was able to communicate by shouting with several people nearby.

The Challenge of Identifying Victims

The identification of the deceased remains one of the greatest logistical challenges for the Himalayan country. Authorities detailed that out of the 1,344 recovered bodies—which include 85 minors—1,270 remain unidentified. Faced with this crisis, forensic experts continue to collect DNA samples, having already accumulated 2,272 genetic profiles of the deceased and their relatives.

Meanwhile, in Tibet (China), a region also struck by the August 26 floods, Chinese authorities reported 31 fatalities and 531 people still unaccounted for in their latest update.