Nepal flood: Death toll tops 1,000 as rescue continues

The death toll after a massive flash flood last week at the Himalayan border between Nepal and China has risen more than 1,000 people, local authorities said on Tuesday.

In Nepal, 987 deaths have already been reported, with almost 4,000 people still being unaccounted for. In China,16 deaths and 546 missing people have been reported .

The list of missing people includes some 800 foreign nationals.

Search and rescue teams are still carrying out operations despite difficult conditions and unstable terrain.

Search dogs are also taking part in the search efforts through mud, rocks and debris the flash floods left behind.

Efforts are also being made to locate the some 500 workers believed to be trapped inside the tunnels of twelve hydropower project tunnels, according to Nepalese authorities.

The flash floods on August 28, started as a glacial collapse in the Himalayas triggered a powerful stream of rock, ice and meltwater into the valleys below.

The stream was so powerful that a seismic event of 5.2 magnitude was recorded.