Over 570 tourists, among them Australians, Indians and Malaysians, missing in Nepal-Tibet floods

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KATHMANDU – More than 1,300 people were reported missing and at least 270 were confirmed dead after flash floods and landslides at the Nepal-Tibet border.

They included hikers and climbers from around the world, many of whom flock to the Himalayan nation to test themselves on some of the world’s highest peaks, as well as Hindu devotees on pilgrimages.

These figures are likely to change, which is not uncommon after a major disaster.

Double-counting of dual nationals, matching bodies with people listed as missing and the chaos of a calamity can all contribute to fluctuations in the figures.

Here is the latest on the missing.

In total: at least 1,381

Nepal’s disaster agency said 823 people were unaccounted for on Aug 27, a figure that included at least 517 foreigners. It did not give a breakdown of the number of Nepalis or the nationalities of the foreigners.

Nepal’s tourism board on Aug 27 put the number of missing tourists – Nepali and foreign – at 644 in total. Its further breakdown of the nationalities is included below.

Across the border with Tibet, China said 558 people – including 260 foreigners – were missing.

India

Neighbouring India had the highest number of missing with 178, Nepal’s tourism board said.

Those missing included those who were in the country with three travel agencies: Samrat Tours & Travels, Leaf Holiday and Himalayan Glacier.

China

China’s Foreign Ministry said nearly 100 Chinese nationals were among the missing in Nepal.

That was in addition to the 558 including 260 foreigners missing on its side of the border.

Singapore

Nine Singapore citizens were missing, Nepal’s tourism board said.

Ukraine

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said Nepal’s Tourist Police had informed it that 53 Ukrainian nationals were believed to be missing.

They included a group of 46 Ukrainian tourists with whom the authorities in Nepal had lost contact, the ministry added.

Malaysia

At least 55 nationals reported to Malaysia’s Embassy in Kathmandu are uncontactable, its Foreign Ministry said on Aug 27. Nepal’s tourism board put the number of missing at 51.

Britain

There were 33 British citizens missing after the disaster, the Nepal tourism board said.

They included 12 British citizens with the Alpine Eco Trek agency. Himalayan Glacier said two Britons were among a group missing in the Rasuwagadhi area.

South Africa

Six South Africans, including four travelling with the same Alpine Eco Trek agency as the missing British citizens, were untraceable after the flood on Aug 26, the authorities in Nepal said.

South Korea

Nine South Koreans working on a hydropower plant are missing, and 10 others stranded, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said late on Aug 26.

The workers were employed by Korea Energy and Doosan Enerbility, the ministry said, adding that Nepal has deployed a rescue team to search the affected area.

Japan

Japan’s Embassy in Nepal asked for a search to locate five citizens it was unable to contact, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on X.

“I am fervently praying that each and every irreplaceable life will be protected,” she said.

United States

At least 65 US citizens are missing, the Nepal tourism board said on Aug 27, a dramatic leap from a day earlier, when the figure had been less than 15.

Portugal

Portugal’s Foreign Ministry said a woman and a man had gone missing in the floods.

“We continue to monitor the situation minute by minute,” a ministry spokesperson told AFP.

Australia

The number of Australian citizens who were untraceable was at 35, the tourism board said.

Earlier on Aug 27, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government was working with Nepal to locate missing citizens.

The missing included 15 who were part of a group of pilgrims that included two teenagers, their tour company told AFP on Aug 27.

Netherlands

A Dutch citizen travelling with the same company as the missing Australians was also unaccounted for, Nepal’s tourism board said.

Italy

The Italian Foreign Ministry said two of its nationals and their guide were stranded upstream from a landslide but were receiving help.

The ministry is aware of 90 Italian citizens currently in Nepal and Tibet, but does not know if any might have been affected.

New Zealand

At least five tourists from New Zealand were among the missing, Nepal said.

Canada

The missing included 25 Canadians, the Nepal tourism board said.

Nationalities unconfirmed

The missing figure released on Aug 27 by China from its side of the border included 260 foreigners, but no breakdown on nationalities was provided.

Several of the tour groups operating in Nepal also announced missing foreigners whose nationalities had not been confirmed.

They included 77 with Trekkers Society, 26 with Kailash Journey and eight with Richa Tours & Travels. It was unclear if the new Nepal Tourism Board figures on Aug 27 included them.

Also missing since Aug 26 are citizens of Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Philippines, Spain, Serbia, Switzerland and Sweden, Nepal’s tourism board said in its statement.

Nepal

The new Nepal Tourism Board figures on Aug 27 said 127 Nepali visitors were among the 644 it listed as missing.

It was not immediately clear how many Nepali residents of the area were missing. AFP, REUTERS