Nepal-Tibet flood toll rises to 1,318; 5,614 missing

The death toll from floods and mudslides after an August 26 glacial and mountain collapse on the China-Nepal border has risen to at least 1,318, with 5,614 people missing, based on figures from Nepal's disaster authority and Chinese state media.

Chinese state media reported 31 deaths and 531 people missing in Tibet. Nepal's disaster authority had said Friday that at least 1,287 people had died in Nepal and 5,083 were missing.

More than 800 foreigners remain unaccounted for, including trekkers in the Himalaya mountains and pilgrims who had come to visit Mount Kailash in Tibet, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists.

At least 17 bodies have also been pulled from rivers in India. Officials presume they floated downstream from Nepal, but they are not included in the death toll.

The United Nations has warned of a major aid challenge after floods destroyed roads, bridges and hydropower dams in mountain districts. UN Resident Coordinator Lila Pieters Yahia said access had been very difficult, and UN agencies had delivered water and sanitation kits, food and medicine.

More than 21,000 Nepali security personnel have been involved in search, rescue and relief work. Aid workers have discussed using helicopters, cargo drones and mountain porters to reach isolated communities.

Tibetan advocacy groups in exile have questioned China's account of the disaster. Beijing says information has been released in an open, transparent and timely way.