Chinese-made drones are flying out the bodies of flood victims and delivering food to survivors after devastating flash floods on the border of Nepal and China’s Tibetan region. Nepal’s army has been using four DJI Fly Cart 100 drones donated from China to make 10 to 16 aid deliveries each day, according to Reuters. A partial glacier collapse in the Himalayan mountains unleashed water, mud, and debris through border crossings, valley communities, and hydropower projects on August 26.

The drones, with a 98-foot rope and winch system, carry between 187 and 220 pounds, though they currently haul about 132 pounds per trip. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported 1,369 deaths in Nepal as of September 9 and more than 5,000 missing. The drones distributed 1,591 kilograms of food across 31 flights. The United Nations is appealing for $20.5 million to help 43,000 people.

Smaller drones are aiding search-and-rescue among more than 21,000 police and soldiers. Manish Maharjan told AP News he flew drones inside hydropower tunnels, using microphone speakers to call out or play music. The Nepal government reported 13,646 rescued. NBC News reported 43 deaths and more than 500 missing on the Tibetan side. Since 2024, Mount Everest Sherpas have used DJI Flycart 100 and DJI Flycart 30 drones. On May 1, President Donald Trump’s envoy attempted to fly a Freefly Alta X Gen 2, but Nepal denied permission.