Nepal Floods: Death Toll Climbs to 469 as Families Grieve in Nuwakot

In Nuwakot district, grief-stricken families gathered on Friday to mourn relatives lost in a catastrophic flash flood that tore through the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China. The disaster has swept away entire communities, along with roads and bridges, leaving a trail of mud and debris.

Authorities used megaphones to warn residents to stay away from swollen rivers, as fears grew that a newly formed, overflowing lake could trigger further flooding. Rescue teams continued to work through the wreckage, recovering bodies and searching for the hundreds still unaccounted for.

Nepal police reported on Friday morning that the national death toll had risen to 469, up from 390 the previous day. China has not updated its earlier report of three deaths in Tibet. Together, the two countries have stated that more than 1,500 people remain missing.

Among the mourners was Dawa Lama, who had returned from South Korea after three years of working there. "My village, my lineage, my family, all are dead. My father, sister, my relatives are no more," he said. "Today, I met my father-in-law; it was good to meet him."

Local resident Ghyamba Tsering described the sudden devastation. "My wife and son were taken by the flood. My whole village was taken by the flood," he said. "Almost all the roads were also swept away. All the bridges were also gone. A few of the roads were still there, so I walked along those roads and reached here."