Nearly 2,000 people are missing after severe floods and flash floods in Nepal, according to the latest update from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. The authority put the number of missing people at 1,924, including 517 foreign nationals. About 15,000 security personnel have been deployed nationwide to search for and rescue those missing.

The authority said search and rescue operations have been intensified in affected areas. However, figures released by Nepali government agencies differ somewhat. Nepal Police had earlier reported that 575 foreign nationals were missing, while the authority’s latest tally was issued about two hours after the police update, creating a gap between the two sets of figures.

Security personnel are using helicopters and other rescue equipment in remote and mountainous flood-hit areas. Authorities are racing to locate missing people after extensive damage across wide areas, including mountainous regions near the Nepal-China border. Difficult terrain and the risk of further flooding are making rescue operations more challenging.