Death toll nears 1,000 as China and Nepal race to reach disaster zone

Rescuers from China and Nepal are intensifying search efforts in areas hit by landslides and floods, as the death toll from the disaster approaches 1,000. Authorities say reopening roads to the hardest-hit area, Gyirong Port, has entered a “critical stage.” Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported 903 confirmed deaths as of Monday morning, with 4,247 people still missing, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Chinese officials announced the death toll on their side of the border on Sunday, but further details were not immediately available. Search teams are focusing on remote mountain villages that remain cut off by damaged roads and debris. The operation involves coordinated ground and aerial efforts, as heavy rainfall continues to complicate rescue work.