Kathmandu: The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 469, Nepal Police said on Friday, as rescue teams continued searching for hundreds of people still missing across the disaster-hit areas.

The rescue operation entered its third day, with more bodies being recovered from several districts. More than 1,500 injured and stranded people have been rescued from affected areas, with many of those injured undergoing treatment at hospitals in Kathmandu.

The disaster, which struck the Nepal-Tibet border region earlier this week, triggered powerful torrents of water, mud, rocks and debris, sweeping through communities and damaging roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Nepal Police said bodies had been recovered from eight districts. The highest number was reported from Chitwan, with 178 bodies, followed by Nawalparasi East (110), Gorkha (44), Nuwakot (37), Dhading (33), Tanahu (28), Nawalparasi West (27) and Rasuwa (12).

1,468 people missing across Nepal and Tibet

At least 1,468 people remain unaccounted for on the two sides of the Nepal-Tibet border, although the figures are being updated and differ between government agencies and foreign missions.

Nepal’s disaster authorities have reported 910 people missing, including at least 517 foreign nationals. China has separately reported 558 people missing in Tibet, including 260 foreigners.

The figures may change as authorities reconcile lists of missing people, identify recovered bodies and account for people who may have been counted by more than one agency.

The Nepal Tourism Board has separately listed 667 tourists and travellers, both Nepali and foreign, as missing.

Citizens of 35 countries among missing

Foreign nationals from at least 35 countries have been reported missing or unaccounted for in connection with the disaster.

According to the latest figures available from Nepalese authorities and foreign governments, the missing include nationals from India, the United States, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, Russia and several other countries.

India: Nepal Tourism Board figures listed 178 Indians as missing, while India’s Ministry of External Affairs has separately said that 290 Indian nationals remain uncontactable, reflecting differences between the various lists.

United States: The US State Department said 90 American citizens were missing, while three had been rescued. It said it was not aware of any US fatalities.

Ukraine: Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said 56 Ukrainians were out of contact. It said there were no confirmed Ukrainian deaths or injuries.

Malaysia: More than 50 Malaysians were reported unreachable, with the Nepal Tourism Board putting the number at 51.

Australia: Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said 39 Australians were missing.

United Kingdom: Nepal Tourism Board figures listed 33 British nationals among those missing.

Canada: The tourism board reported 25 Canadians missing, while the Canadian government said it was aware of 30 Canadians and permanent residents in Nepal and Tibet whose whereabouts had not been confirmed.

South Korea: Nine South Korean hydropower workers were initially reported out of contact in Rasuwa district. Four South Koreans had subsequently been rescued, according to the Nepal Tourism Board.

Singapore: Nine Singaporeans were reported missing.

Germany: Eight German citizens were unaccounted for.

Russia: Eight Russians were missing, while two had been rescued.

Other missing foreign nationals included citizens of South Africa (6), Latvia (6), Japan (5), New Zealand (5), France (4), Spain (4), Belgium (3), Hungary (3), Portugal (3), the Netherlands (2), Italy (3), Ireland (2), Kazakhstan (2), Belarus (1), Finland (1), Israel (1), Lithuania (1), the Philippines (1), Serbia (1) and Sweden (1).

One Swiss and one Bulgarian national were listed as rescued.

Rescue operations continue

Search and rescue teams are continuing operations in affected districts, with security forces using helicopters, ground teams and heavy machinery to search through mud and debris.

The scale of destruction has made the operation difficult, with damaged roads, collapsed bridges and large quantities of debris hampering access to affected areas. Authorities are also monitoring the possibility of further flooding in the region.

With hundreds of people still unaccounted for, authorities are continuing efforts to identify recovered bodies, reconcile missing-person lists and locate survivors.