The death toll from the devastating flash floods that struck northern Nepal had reached 1,342 by 8 am Saturday, with 4,886 people still missing, Nepal Police said.

The bodies were recovered across eight districts, including 360 in Chitwan, 230 in Nawalparasi West, 222 in Nawalparasi East, 192 in Nuwakot, 160 in Rasuwa, 73 in Gorkha, 67 in Dhading and 38 in Tanahun, according to the police.

The floods struck along the Bhotekoshi river in Rasuwa district, near Nepal’s northern border with China, causing widespread destruction downstream.

Police said 1,030 bodies had so far been buried after DNA samples were collected and other identification procedures completed. The figure includes 222 women, 355 men and 453 bodies whose sex had not been established.

Authorities have collected 2,272 DNA samples to help identify the dead, including 1,260 samples from the bodies and 1,012 from relatives.

Details of 1,270 unidentified bodies have also been uploaded to the Nepal Police website to help families establish whether their relatives are among the dead.

Nepal Police said 7,912 officers have been deployed for search and rescue, relief distribution, recovery of bodies and other emergency operations in the affected areas.

About 3,240 people are being housed at holding centres in several districts, while police and local authorities continue to move families from flood-risk areas to safer locations.

Security teams are also working with residents and other agencies to clear blocked roads and carry out search and rescue operations in areas affected by the floods.