Kathmandu: At least 47 people have been killed in Nepal after days of relentless monsoon rains triggered devastating floods and landslides across the country, officials said on Sunday.

The eastern district of Ilam was hardest hit, with 37 deaths reported from landslides alone. “Heavy rains overnight caused the landslides,” said Sunita Nepal, a local district official. “Rescue workers have reached the affected areas, but many roads are blocked, making access difficult.”

Since Friday, torrential downpours have lashed the Himalayan nation, swelling rivers and inundating settlements, including parts of the capital, Kathmandu. Security forces have been deployed with helicopters and motorboats to support rescue operations.

Five people remain missing, according to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

The floods and landslides have disrupted major highways and domestic flights, stranding hundreds of travellers—many of whom were returning home after the Hindu festival of Dashain.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki assured citizens that the government was “fully prepared for rescue and relief.”

Monsoon rains from June to September regularly bring destruction across South Asia, but experts warn the frequency and intensity of such disasters are increasing due to climate change.