Nepal Floods Leave 540 Foreign Tourists Missing

Nepal is facing a crisis as nearly 600 foreign tourists are missing following devastating floods, impacting travelers from over 30 countries.

Nearly 600 foreign nationals are missing after deadly floods hit the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday.

The flooding began on the morning of August 26, when a surge of water, mud, and debris entered Nepal from the autonomous Chinese region of Tibet via the Bhote Koshi River, according to Nepal’s Tourism Board.

As of Friday morning local time, reports indicate that around 465 bodies have been recovered, as shared in a Facebook update by the Nepal police. Meanwhile, Nepal’s foreign ministry reported that 596 foreign nationals remain unaccounted for in the country.

The list of missing individuals includes 66 Americans and 25 Canadians, alongside travelers from the UK, Australia, Malaysia, and Ukraine. Notably, 167 of the missing foreigners are from neighboring India, highlighting the international scope of the crisis.

The US State Department has announced that it is deploying a disaster response adviser and providing $500,000 through Catholic Relief Services to support shelter, supplies, clean water, and sanitation efforts. Furthermore, the US Embassy in Kathmandu is collaborating with local authorities to locate and assist American citizens affected by the floods.

In a similar vein, Global Affairs Canada disclosed that it is aware of the situation impacting Canadians and is prepared to offer consular assistance. However, power outages have complicated communication efforts.

The floods primarily impacted communities situated along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, just north of Kathmandu.

Initial reports from the US Geological Survey indicated a magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurred about 40 miles north of the capital. However, they later clarified that the signal stemmed from a glacier collapse and debris flow which released energy equivalent to a magnitude 5.2 earthquake.

Investigations are ongoing regarding what triggered the glacier collapse.

According to Nepal’s disaster management authority, 27 foreign tourists were rescued from Rasuwa by Thursday afternoon. Two army helicopters have also been deployed to assist with ongoing rescue operations.

The Tourism Board has emphasized that while parts of Nepal are severely affected, other locations remain safe. They urge travelers to avoid rivers, bridges, and damaged roads, and to postpone trips to areas impacted by the floods until conditions are declared safe.