Nepal Flood and Landslide Death Toll Reaches 129

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Rescue crews in Nepal have recovered dozens of bodies from buses and other vehicles that were buried in landslides near the capital, Kathmandu. The death toll from flooding has risen to at least 129, with dozens still missing, officials said on Sunday.

The weather improved on Sunday following three days of monsoon rains, allowing for rescue and cleanup efforts to begin. Kathmandu remained isolated on Sunday as three highways leading out of the city were blocked by landslides.

Rescuers retrieved 14 bodies overnight from two buses that were en route to Kathmandu when a landslide buried them. Another 23 bodies were unearthed from vehicles on Sunday at the same location, approximately 16 kilometers (10 miles) outside Kathmandu. Workers are continuing to search for others who may have been buried.

A statement issued by the Nepal police reported 86 additional injuries due to the flooding and landslides, with 62 people unaccounted for. The death toll is anticipated to rise as reports come in from villages across the mountainous nation.

Residents in the southern part of Kathmandu, which was inundated on Saturday, were engaged in cleaning up their homes as water levels started to recede. At least 34 people perished in Kathmandu, which was the hardest hit by the flooding.

Police and military personnel are assisting with rescue efforts, while heavy machinery is being used to clear the roads of landslides. The government has announced the closure of schools and colleges across Nepal for the next three days.

The monsoon season commenced in June and typically concludes by mid-September.