Dozens of American and Canadian citizens are among hundreds of people missing after devastating flash floods and mudslides struck near Nepal’s border with Tibet, according to Nepali authorities.
The disaster has killed more than 350 people, while rescue teams continue searching for missing residents and tourists across the affected areas.
The Nepal Tourism Board said more than 500 tourists from 28 countries remain missing. Most of those missing are foreign nationals.
According to the board’s latest update on Thursday, authorities are searching for 65 U.S. citizens and 25 Canadians.
Americans and Canadians Among the Missing
The U.S. State Department confirmed that Americans were affected by the flooding but did not release a specific number.
The U.S. Embassy in Nepal continues to work with local authorities and tour agencies to help American citizens caught up in the disaster.
Meanwhile, Canada’s foreign affairs department said it was monitoring the situation and stood ready to provide assistance to Canadians who need help.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also said his government was closely following developments in Nepal.
The Canadian government has urged citizens in the region to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. The free program allows Canadian officials to contact citizens during emergencies overseas.
Hundreds Remain Missing Near Nepal-Tibet Border
The devastating floods struck the Bhote Koshi area of Nepal’s Rasuwa district and nearby communities.
The sudden surge of water and mud swept through settlements, damaging homes, roads and bridges. Rescue workers now face difficult conditions as they search for people who remain unaccounted for.
Nepal’s Tourism Board has published nationality figures for some of the missing tourists. However, authorities continue to update those numbers as rescue teams gather more information.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV separately reported three deaths and at least 558 missing people in Tibet. The report said 260 foreign nationals were among those missing.
However, it remains unclear whether China’s figures overlap with the numbers reported by Nepal.
US Embassy Offers Support
The U.S. Embassy in Nepal said it remained in close contact with Nepali authorities following the disaster.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and devastation caused by the Bhote Koshi flood,” the embassy said in a statement.
The embassy also expressed condolences to the families of those who died and offered its thoughts to people affected by the disaster.
The U.S. State Department has not released further details about the Americans involved, citing privacy considerations.
Canada Tracks Citizens in Nepal and Tibet
Global Affairs Canada said about 820 Canadians had registered as being in Nepal through the Registration of Canadians Abroad system.
Another five Canadians had registered as being in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
However, officials stressed that these numbers do not represent the total number of Canadians currently in the region. Registration remains voluntary, and some people on the list may not have traveled yet.
“The Department is aware of Canadians who have been affected by the floods,” Global Affairs Canada said.
Landslide, Not Earthquake, May Have Triggered Disaster
Early reports suggested that an earthquake might have triggered an ice avalanche and landslide near the border.
However, further analysis from the U.S. Geological Survey points to a landslide as the source of the seismic activity rather than an earthquake.
Scientists say several factors can trigger landslides and avalanches. Heavy rainfall or melting ice can weaken soil, rock and ice, potentially causing unstable slopes to collapse.
Climate change has also accelerated glacier melt across parts of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. However, scientists caution that they cannot yet determine whether climate change played a direct role in this particular disaster.
Floods Cause Major Damage
The flash floods caused widespread destruction in communities along the Bhote Koshi River.
The disaster damaged or destroyed roads and bridges, cutting off some areas and making rescue operations more difficult.
A Nepali government official told BBC Nepali that initial estimates put infrastructure damage at more than 15 billion Nepalese rupees, equivalent to roughly $98 million.
Rescue and relief teams continue to work in affected areas as authorities assess the full scale of the destruction.
Nepal Intensifies Rescue Efforts
Nepalese authorities have called for a major rescue and relief operation as the search for missing people continues.
President Ram Chandra Paudel urged government agencies, security forces, political parties, social organisations and members of the public to cooperate with rescue teams.
He also called on people in affected areas to remain vigilant and coordinate closely with authorities.
For families in Nepal and abroad, the search remains urgent as rescuers work to locate hundreds of people still missing after the deadly floods.
