KATHMANDU, NEPAL — At least 517 foreign nationals have been reported missing after a catastrophic flash flood swept through northern Nepal, according to a preliminary country-by-country tally released by the Nepal Tourism Board.
India has the largest number of missing citizens, with 178 people unaccounted for. The list also includes 65 Americans, 53 Ukrainians, 51 Malaysians, 35 Australians, 33 British citizens and 25 Canadians.
The flood struck at approximately 8:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, August 26, affecting communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Gorkha districts.
The Tourism Board said the figures were compiled from records submitted by trekking and travel companies. Authorities are now checking those records with tour operators, guides, hotels and security agencies to determine the whereabouts of travelers who were in or passing through the affected region.
Being listed as missing does not confirm that a traveler has died or been injured. Communications, electricity and road access have been severely disrupted, leaving authorities and families unable to contact many people.
Foreign nationals reported missing
| Country | Missing | Country | Missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 35 | Lithuania | 1 |
| Belarus | 1 | Malaysia | 51 |
| Belgium | 3 | Netherlands | 2 |
| Bulgaria | 1 | New Zealand | 5 |
| Canada | 25 | Philippines | 1 |
| Finland | 1 | Portugal | 2 |
| France | 4 | Russia | 8 |
| Germany | 8 | Serbia | 1 |
| Hungary | 1 | Singapore | 9 |
| India | 178 | South Africa | 6 |
| Ireland | 2 | Spain | 3 |
| Israel | 1 | Sweden | 1 |
| Italy | 2 | Switzerland | 1 |
| Japan | 5 | Ukraine | 53 |
| Kazakhstan | 2 | United Kingdom | 33 |
| Latvia | 6 | United States | 65 |
Total foreign nationals listed: 517
The Tourism Board document also listed 127 Nepali travelers as missing, bringing its preliminary overall figure to 644.
However, Reuters reported that officials were referring to 570 missing tourists while citing the same total of 517 foreigners. The reason for the difference in the overall figures was not immediately clear, and officials emphasized that records were still being verified.
Separate figures issued by foreign governments also varied. Malaysia’s foreign ministry said 55 of its nationals were uncontactable, compared with 51 on the Tourism Board’s list. South Korea said nine of its citizens working at a hydropower facility were missing and another 10 were stranded. South Korea was not included as a separate entry in the Tourism Board table, so those nine people have not been added to the total above.
The disaster has devastated settlements, roads, bridges and power facilities near Nepal’s border with Tibet. More than 5,000 security personnel were involved in the response, while helicopters searched for survivors and delivered emergency supplies to isolated communities. At least 125 people, including 20 foreigners, had been rescued by Thursday, according to a separate Reuters report.
Authorities believe a collapse involving glacial rock and ice triggered a powerful debris flow into a Himalayan river, sending mud, rocks and water through settlements downstream.
The Tourism Board urged people in affected areas to follow official safety instructions. It listed Nepal’s toll-free emergency number as 1234, its hotline as 1144, and the Tourist Police contact number as 9851289445.
The missing-person figures are preliminary and are expected to change as rescue teams restore access and authorities establish contact with tour groups.
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