Nepal floods: Death toll rises to 675, over 2,400 still missing

Nepal is confronting one of its worst flood disasters in recent years, with the death toll from the devastating Bhote Koshi flash floods rising to 675 as rescuers continue to recover bodies and search for thousands of people still unaccounted for.

More than 2,400 people remain missing, according to the latest reports, while thousands of survivors have been rescued or evacuated. The continuing search has been made increasingly perilous by renewed rainfall, rising river levels and the threat of further flooding in the Bhote Koshi basin. 

The catastrophe unfolded on Wednesday after what authorities believe was a massive collapse or avalanche of ice and rock in the Himalayan region near the Nepal-Tibet border. A violent torrent of water, mud and debris surged downstream, tearing through settlements, sweeping away homes and vehicles, severing roads and bridges and severely damaging hydropower infrastructure.

The Bhote Koshi River became the principal channel for the floodwaters as they raced into central Nepal, leaving a trail of destruction across several districts.

Rescue teams are working against time as difficult weather and devastated infrastructure continue to hamper access to some of the worst-hit areas. Helicopters have been repeatedly deployed to evacuate stranded residents and deliver essential supplies, while thousands of security personnel have been mobilised for search and rescue operations.